Solitary fibrous tumour of the ethmoid sinuses and anterior fossa

Abstract

A 68-year-old woman presented with a 2 month history of progressive headache, left extremity weakness, and cognitive difficulties. Neuroimaging results demonstrated a macrocystic tumour attached to ethmoid sinuses and disclosed atypical findings. The tumour was totally removed. All the symptoms and signs ameliorated after surgery. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations led to a diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumour. A solitary fibrous tumour could be seen in various intracranial areas but ethmoid sinuses and anterior fossa are not an exceptional site. They appear as extra-axial tumours with a characteristic pattern on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but the cystic component is very unusual. Intracranial location and MRI features of this rare entity are presented and discussed along with various dura based tumours.