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A case report of congenital temporal bone encephalocele presenting as a tumor in a child
Doan-Van Ngoc1,2, Nguyen Ngoc Trung3, Le Anh Duc4,5
1Department of Medical Imaging Technology, VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Insights
This case report details a rare congenital temporal bone encephalocele in an infant, diagnosed postnatally. The study highlights the importance of advanced imaging in identifying this unusual cranial defect.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Encephaloceles involve cranial content herniation through skull defects, with occipital being most common.
- Temporal bone encephaloceles in children are rare congenital or acquired conditions.
- Diagnosis can occur prenatally or postnatally, requiring advanced imaging.
Observation:
- A 2-month-old boy presented with seizures and a right neck mass.
- The mass was identified as a congenital temporal bone encephalocele.
- Diagnosis confirmed via MRI, CT, and histology.
Findings:
- Congenital temporal bone encephalocele is a rare condition.
- Seizures and neck masses can be presenting symptoms.
- Multimodal imaging and histology are crucial for diagnosis.
Implications:
- This case expands understanding of rare encephalocele presentations in infants.
- Highlights the diagnostic utility of MRI and CT in pediatric neurosurgery.
- Informs clinical awareness of temporal bone encephaloceles and their management.
Abstract:
An encephalocele may be congenital or acquired and is characterized by the herniation of cranial contents through a skull bone defect. Most congenital encephaloceles occur in the occipital area, and temporal bone encephaloceles in children are rare. Congenital encephaloceles can be diagnosed either prenatally or after birth. We describe the case of a congenital temporal bone encephalocele in a 2-month-old boy that was diagnosed after birth. The patient presented with seizures and a bulging mass in the right neck that was detected by his mother during the second month after birth. The combined results from brain magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of encephalocele. Although the surgical repair was offered, the family declined.
