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J Neurol Surg Rep 2014; 75(01): e141-e143
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1376426
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Spontaneously Improving Occipitocondylar Hyperplasia: A Case Report

Laszlo Nagy
1   Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States
,
Coby Ray
2   School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

23 January 2014

03 April 2014

Publication Date:
28 May 2014 (online)

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Abstract

This case report presents a pediatric patient with the extremely rare craniovertebral junction anomaly of occipitocondylar hyperplasia. This 4-year old boy presented with macrocephaly and mild to moderate pontomedullary compression from the unilateral occipitocondylar hyperplasia. Based on the asymptomatic clinical presentation, it was decided to follow the patient with serial magnetic resonance images without surgical intervention. Upon further imaging the occipitocondylar hyperplasia spontaneously resolved. This case report offers watchful waiting as an alternative treatment approach to surgical intervention as was reported in the literature previously. Possible pathophysiologic mechanisms are also briefly explored.

Keywords

hyperplasia - occipital condyle - occipitocondylar - skull base
 

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