Abstract
IntroductionNeuroglial heterotopia, heterotopic brain tissue, or differentiated neural tissue outside the cranial vault is uncommon, and these anomalies most commonly occur in the nasal cavity.Case presentationWe report a case of rare pure cystic heterotopic brain tissue in a two-month-old Caucasian baby girl that presented as a large cystic neck mass and was confused with a cystic hygroma. Her mother reported a progressive increase in the size of this swelling and mild respiratory difficulty when the girl was sleeping. A computed tomography scan of the brain and neck showed a large heterogeneous mass extending from the base of the skull to the left submandibular region; a cystic component was also noted. Our patient under went total excision of the cystic mass and prevention of airway obstruction by a left submandibular approach. The final gross pathology diagnosis was heterotopic brain tissue.ConclusionsPure cystic neck heterotopic brain tissue lesions are very uncommon, and a preoperative diagnosis of this lesion is difficult. Brain heterotopia is a rare, benign condition that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the neonatal head and neck mass.
Highlights
Neuroglial heterotopia, heterotopic brain tissue, or differentiated neural tissue outside the cranial vault is uncommon, and these anomalies most commonly occur in the nasal cavity.Case presentation: We report a case of rare pure cystic heterotopic brain tissue in a two-month-old Caucasian baby girl that presented as a large cystic neck mass and was confused with a cystic hygroma
Brain heterotopia is a rare, benign condition that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the neonatal head and neck mass
Neuroglial heterotopia, heterotopic brain tissue, or differentiated neural tissue outside the cranial vault is uncommon, and these anomalies most commonly occur in the nasal cavity [1,2]
Summary
Pure cystic neck brain tissue heterotopias are very uncommon lesions, and a pre-operative diagnosis of this lesion is difficult. Heterotopic brain is a rare, benign condition that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the neonatal head and neck masses. Consent Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. 2. Hendrikson M, Faye-Petersen O, Johnson DG: Cystic and solid heterotopic brain in the face and neck: a review and report of an unusual case. 4. Forte V, Friedberg J, Thorner P, Park A: Heterotopic brain in the parapharyngeal space. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001, 127:997-1002. 6. Chen CY, Huang JH: Parapharyngeal neuroglial heterotopia presenting as a growing single locular cyst: MR imaging findings.
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