Intracranial squamous cell carcinoma of the cerebello-pontine angle mimicking a cystic acoustic schwannoma. A case report with discussion of differential diagnosis and review of literature

Abstract

We report a case of a primary intracranial squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cerebello-pontine angle extending through the internal auditory canal, with the unusual presentation of a completely cystic lesion with no diffusion restriction, internal necrotic-hemorrhagic changes and peripheral enhancement, mimicking a cystic acoustic schwannoma. The lack of diffusion restriction and the peripheral enhancement along the lesion, 2 unique findings, supposedly reflected complete cancerization of the epidermoid cyst from which the SCC originated. We discuss the differential diagnosis and review the literature on primary intracranial SCC.

Keywords

• Intracranial epidermoid carcinoma
• Tumors of the ponto-cerebellar angle
• Epidermoid cyst malignant transformation
• Cystic schwannoma
• Neuroimaging