Occipital glial heterotopia: A rare entity with important clinical considerations

Abstract

Glial heterotopia are rare, benign tumors most commonly found around the nasal cavity, but extra-nasal heterotopias have also been observed. We present an anatomically rare case of glial heterotopia overlying the left occipital condyle. Excisional biopsy was performed and histopathology was consistent with glial heterotopia. This case report discusses the diagnostic and management considerations in an infant presenting with a congenital soft tissue lesion at the skull base. Furthermore, the presence of glial heterotopia in the posterior neck has interesting implications for our understanding of the embryological origin of this entity.

Keywords

• Heterotopia
• Glioma
• Choristoma
• Occiput
• Encephalocele