Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
Benign fibrous histiocytoma of the skull base. Case report
R Shane Tubbs1, David R Kelly, Judith L Pugh
1Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA. rstubbs@uab.edu
Insights
A rare benign fibrous histiocytoma (BFH) was found in an 11-month-old girl's skull base. The tumor showed no growth 18 months after surgical removal, indicating a positive prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neurosurgery
- Pathology
Background:
- Benign fibrous histiocytoma (BFH) is a rare soft-tissue tumor.
- Skull base tumors in infants are uncommon and present diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- An 11-month-old girl presented with an incidental skull base mass discovered during treatment for a middle ear infection.
- Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a soft-tissue mass involving the temporal and occipital bones.
Findings:
- Surgical biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of benign fibrous histiocytoma (BFH).
- Postoperative follow-up at 18 months showed the child was asymptomatic with no tumor recurrence or growth.
Implications:
- This case highlights BFH as a potential diagnosis for pediatric skull base masses.
- Early detection and surgical management appear effective for pediatric skull base BFH.
- Further research into the long-term outcomes of pediatric BFH is warranted.
Abstract:
The authors report the case of benign fibrous histiocytoma (BFH) of the skull base in an 11-month-old girl. During draining for a middle ear infection, the child was noted to have an anomalous mass in the skull base. On magnetic resonance imaging studies a soft-tissue mass of the skull base primarily involving the regions of the temporal and occipital bones was discovered. Results of a surgical biopsy were consistent with BFH. At the most recent follow-up examination--18 months postoperatively--the child was noted to be asymptomatic with no gross increase in tumor size.
