Bilateral temporal bone encephaloceles after cranial irradiation. Case report

Abstract

Irradiation of the central nervous system may cause significant morbidity, including endocrine dysfunction and intellectual impairment. The authors report a case of bilateral temporal bone encephaloceles in a 21-year-old man who had received prophylactic central nervous system irradiation for acute lymphocytic leukemia in early childhood. Endaural encephaloceles are uncommon, and most occur as a complication of mastoid surgery. The etiology, clinical features, radiological diagnosis, and surgical treatment of temporal bone encephaloceles are discussed.