[Cylindroma of the base of the skull with longstanding neurological disturbances. Anatomo-clinical correlation].

The authors present the clinico-pathological correlation in a women who developed at the age of 43 years progressive pain in the left hemiface with motor and sensitive disorders of the left trigeminal nerve. Progressive involvement of the left IIIrd, IVth and Vth cranial nerves appeared with persistence of intractable facial pain which was not responsive to treatment by Tegretol, nor by thermocoagulation of the left Gasserian ganglion. Partial resection of a tumor was performed. The biopsy revealed its cylindromatous nature. The patient died after eight years of evolution. Autopsy confirmed an extensive tumoral invasion of the left temporal bone with invasion of the dura, the left cavernous sinus, and tumoral infiltration of the IIIrd, IVth, Vth and VIIIth cranial nerves on the left side. Metastases of the cylindromatous epithelioma were found in the liver and adrenals. The precise origin of the tumor could not be ascertained.