Bronchogenic Cyst: Skull Base Lesions with Extracranial Extension

Abstract

Background: Intracranial bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are extremely rare. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a BC in which lesions involve the middle and posterior cranial fossa, as well as the infratemporal fossa.

Case description: We present the case of a 38-year-old woman who suffered from a cranial nerve dysfunction for 2 years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that there were skull base communication lesions across the middle and posterior fossa. The patient was operated on through an infratemporal fossa approach. The final diagnosis was BC after histopathologic examination and immunohistochemical verification. The patient's neurologic dysfunction was partially ameliorated at the half-year follow-up.

Conclusions: Intracranial BCs are rare. However, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis for cystic lesions with edge enhancement or extracranial extension.

Keywords: Bronchogenic cyst; Cranial; Extracranial extension; Surgery.