Prenatal ultrasound and histological diagnosis of fetal nasal glioma (heterotopic central nervous system tissue): report of a new case and review of the literature

Abstract

Nasal glioma is a rare, benign congenital midline facial lesion. Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis performed at 2nd trimester of pregnancy revealed a right-sided mass at the level of the fetal face extending from the right internal canthus to the nasal bridge. Differential diagnosis of facial mass in the fetus represents a critical issue because is essential in guiding the prenatal counselling of the couple and in guiding the prenatal and/or postnatal management. Alternative diagnoses such as dacryocystocele, dermoid cyst, retinoblastoma or teratoma, hemangioma, and encephalocele that can not completely be excluded prenatally are discussed. Embryology, pathology, prenatal ultrasound diagnostic clusters of the lesion as well as MR imaging findings are discussed together with review of the literature.