[The coexistence of basal epidermoid tumor and trigeminal neurinoma within the posterior fossa]

Abstract

Recently we encountered one case with basal epidermoid tumor originated in the cerebellopontine angle, associated with a trigeminal neurinoma of the Gasserian ganglion and trigeminal root within both middle and posterior fossa. We wish to present the case with an analytical review of the reported cases of multiple intracranial tumors. The patient was a 49-year-old man who noted the onset of left facial nerve palsy in March, 1974, which lasted for several years. In April 1976, he developed unsteadiness of gait which was not worsening. He noted left facial pain and paresthesias of tongue in October, 1981 and was pointed out as having left hearing disturbance by a physician. He was admitted to our hospital on December 11, 1981. Neurological examination showed hypalgesia and hypesthesia on his left face, left VII cranial nerve palsy and left-sided hearing loss. The IX and X cranial nerves were also involved with absent gag reflexes on the left side and swallowing difficulty. Tongue was deviated to the right on protrusion. He had mild ataxia of the left limbs, ataxic gait and horizontal gaze nystagmus to the right. He had neither café-au-lait spot nor subcutaneous tumor suggestive of von Recklinghausen's disease. CT scan revealed water density lesion in the prepontine and cerebellopontine cisterns which seemed to distort brainstem posteriorly. Metrizamide CT cisternography showed a large fungated mass filling the basal cistern. These findings strongly suggested the presence of an epidermoid tumor. A left suboccipital craniectomy was performed on May 13, 1982. A large pearly mass filling the basal cistern was removed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)