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Nasal glial heterotopia

Case contributed by Ammar Haouimi
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Red skin-covered mass in the left paranasal region since birth.

Patient Data

Age: 1 year
Gender: Female
mri

Well-defined solid-cystic nasal mass of left paramedian location connected to the root of the nose by a stalk of tissue. The solid component is of central location, isointense to the normal brain tissue on all sequences with peripheral enhancement. The cystic component is of peripheral location, isointense to the CSF on all sequences with peripheral enhancement. No connection seen with the anterior cranial fossa.

Case Discussion

MRI features of a nasal solid-cystic mass of left paramedian location, the solid component show an isosignal to the normal brain tissue on all sequences, connected to the root of the nose by a stalk of tissue but with no connection with the intracranial structures.

The patient underwent complete excision of the mass with a histopathological exam that confirms the diagnosis of nasal glial heterotopia.

Nasal gliomas, also known as nasal glial heterotopia, are a rare congenital non-neoplastic lesions composed of dysplastic glial cells which have lost their intracranial connections and present as an extranasal or intranasal mass.

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