TOTAL REMOVAL OF A PRIMARY INTRACRANIAL SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA INVADING THE BRAIN-STEM

BACKGROUND Primary intracranial squamous cell carcinomas are extremely rare, and commonly manifest as malignant transformations of intracran ial epidermoid cysts. METHODS A case of primary squamous cell carcinom a invading the ventral brain stem and the trigeminal entry zone is des cribed, The tumor was microsurgically totally removed via a paramedian supracerebellar approach, Three years after the operation the tumor r ecurred, and was again totally removed using the same approach. RESULT S The patient showed no postoperative neurologic deterioration except for a transient deterioration of gait disturbances. The pathologic dia gnosis was a recurrence of the squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS Si nce primary intracranial squamous cell carcinomas grow slowly and have a well demarcated capsule, total removal should be considered wheneve r possible. (C) 1996 by Elsevier Science Inc.