Pure distant, leptomeningeal metastasis of esthesioneuro-epithelioma.

BACKGROUND

Esthesioneuro-epithelioma is a very rare variant of olfactory neuroblastoma that originates in the region of the cribriform plate. Its intracranial manifestation is due to infiltration of the anterior skull base and frontal lobes.

METHODS

The authors describe a 52-year-old man with a history of a subtotally resected right maxillary sinus ethesioneuro-epithelioma 2 years earlier who presented with a left hemiparesis and signs of increased intracranial pressure. CT examination revealed a tumour of the right temporoparietal region. The tumour and its dural attachment were totally removed. The patient made a full recovery postoperatively.

FINDINGS: The features of esthesioneuro-epithelioma were found on histopathological examination.

INTERPRETATION: The intracranial tumour resected was a distant, leptomeningeal metastasis of esthesioneuro-epithelioma. To our knowledge such a documented case has not been published before.