An Ectopic Recurrent Craniopharyngioma of the Temporal Lobe: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background Ectopic recurrent craniopharyngioma is rare. We present a case of a temporal ectopic recurrent tumor after a trans-eyebrow supraorbital keyhole approach and provide a review of the reported data with basic statistics. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 57 cases of craniopharyngiomas surgically treated at our institution. A temporal ectopic recurrent tumor with 10% high Ki-67 proliferation index expression was identified. The lesion underwent gross total resection without any complications. We also reviewed the related data and performed a basic statistical analysis. Results Our review found 64 cases of ectopic recurrent craniopharyngioma that had been reported (including the present case). The median interval until ectopic recurrence was 4.0 years (interquartile range, 2.0–10.0). Of the 64 lesions, 48 (75%) were adamantinous, 6 (9%) were papillary, and 10 (16%) were unknown. Also, 34 tumors (53%) were located in the previous surgical tract, and 30 (47%) had disseminated along the cerebrospinal fluid pathway. Of the 64 ectopic tumors, 50 (78%) could be resected in total without complications. Conclusions Ectopic recurrent craniopharyngioma is a rare phenomenon. Meticulous protection of the entire surgical field and careful manipulation of the tumor during resection are required to prevent possible ectopic recurrence. Regular follow-up examinations are strongly recommended to detect any further recurrences. Gross total resection is the treatment of choice for ectopic recurrence.