[Occipital condyle syndrome: presentation of a case]

We present the clinical features and radiologic findings of a patient with the so-called occipital condyle syndrome (OCS). This clinical picture is originated by the selective metastasization of one of the condyles of the occipital bone. As it was shown in our case, this syndrome may be the presenting feature of a systemic neoplasm. The occipital condyle syndrome must be suspected in front of any patient with the binomial intense unilateral occipital pain that exacerbates with palpation and turning the neck and ipsilateral hemilingual paralysis. We briefly discuss the differential diagnosis of this condition. As conventional radiologic studies may show no abnormalities, plain X-ray examination and computed tomography must selectively study the region of the foramen magnum. The importance of the diagnosis is beyond academic interest; early radiotherapy, as it was the case of our patient, may lead to a substantial symptomatic improvement.