Intracranial Rosai-Dorfman disease in a child mimicking bilateral giant petroclival meningiomas: a case report and review of literature

Childs Nerv Syst. 2006 Sep;22(9):1194-200. doi: 10.1007/s00381-006-0055-1. Epub 2006 Mar 16.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES AND IMPORTANCE: Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare but distinctive entity of unknown etiology; isolated intracranial RDD is uncommon. Of 37 reported intracranial RDD cases, only three were reported in children.

Clinical presentation: We report an unusual case of a 15-year-old boy presenting with 4 months history of raised intracranial pressure with visual deterioration. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral petroclival enhancing lesions with cavernous sinus extension mimicking meningioma. However, histological examination was diagnostic of RDD.

Intervention: The patient underwent extended right-sided middle fossa approach and near-total tumor removal from petroclival region and cavernous sinus on both sides in two stages 6 weeks apart.

Conclusion: Ours is the first case of pediatric isolated intracranial RDD presenting with giant bilateral petroclival masses successfully managed with bilateral extended middle fossa approach in two stages. An optimal treatment for RDD is not established, but complete surgical resection alone seems effective.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / surgery
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Brain Diseases / pathology
  • Brain Diseases / surgery
  • Cavernous Sinus / pathology
  • Cavernous Sinus / surgery
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology
  • Histiocytes / pathology
  • Histiocytosis, Sinus / diagnosis*
  • Histiocytosis, Sinus / pathology
  • Histiocytosis, Sinus / surgery
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Meningioma / diagnosis*
  • Meningioma / pathology
  • Meningioma / surgery
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / surgery
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Optic Atrophy / diagnosis
  • Optic Atrophy / surgery
  • Petrous Bone
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor