Computed tomography in intracranial supratentorial osteochondroma

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Osteochondromas are benign bone tumors, rarely occurring intracranially.
• Intracranial osteochondromas can present with non-specific neurological symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of a large frontoparietal intracranial osteochondroma.
• To highlight the diagnostic utility of computed tomography (CT) in identifying intracranial osteochondromas.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 20-year-old male with intracranial osteochondroma.
• Review of diagnostic imaging including plain skull films, angiography, radionuclide scan, and computed tomography (CT).

Main Results:

• The osteochondroma presented as a huge frontoparietal mass causing headache, vomiting, and blurred vision.
• Conventional imaging failed to provide a specific preoperative diagnosis.
• CT revealed a high-density mass with a honeycomb appearance and nodular calcification, showing moderate enhancement postcontrast.

Conclusions:

• CT findings, particularly the honeycomb pattern and calcification, are highly suggestive of osteochondroma.
• Advanced imaging like CT can facilitate accurate preoperative histological diagnosis of intracranial osteochondromas.