====== Gorham-Stout disease of skull base ====== Lesions of the [[skull base]] are extremely rare and entail an even more devastating prognosis due to [[cervical spine instability]] and [[cerebrospinal fluid fistula]]. Due to the scarcity of this condition, the aim of a study was to give an overview of skull base [[Gorham-Stout disease]] and review the cases with such conditions reported in the literature. In this case-based review, different aspects of skull base GSD are discussed, and a sample clinical case of GSD leading to [[cranial settling]] and [[rhinorrhea]] is presented. The characteristics, symptoms, and management of all English-language PubMed-reported cases were reviewed, and different features of presentation and methods of treatments were analyzed. Based on the literature review, most of the cases encountered serious problems in the course of the disease. Meningitis/Cerebrospinal fluid fistula was detected in 12 of 26 collected cases, followed by hearing loss/tinnitus/otitis media in 10 cases, headache in 8, and neck pain/stiffness in 8 patients. Despite a variety of treatments, improvement was only observed in 8 of 26 collected cases. The reminders showed either stable condition or worsening and death. All cases of GSD of the skull base should be evaluated for [[rhinorrhea]]/[[otorrhea]] and [[cranial settling]], both of them being among the most life-threatening conditions. Since definite treatment, in order to stop disease progression, is sometimes impossible, symptomatic and supportive treatment should be started as possible. ((Maroufi SF, Habibi Z, Dabbagh Ohadi MA, Mohammadi E, Nejat F. [[Gorham-Stout disease of skull base]] leading to cranial settling and rhinorrhea: a case-based review. Childs Nerv Syst. 2022 Feb 25. doi: 10.1007/s00381-021-05394-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35217940.)). ---- 6 patients (5 males, 1 female) were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 3.5 years (range 0-10). Follow-up was of 5.2 years. Patients were divided into Naso-temporal (NT) and Vertebro-temporal (VT) groups following anatomical location. NT patients (4 patients) all had petrous defects extending anteriorly, including sphenoid, ethmoidal, and mandibular defects. They all had [[cerebrospinal fluid fistula]] (CSF) and recurrent meningitis (range from 3 to 7). Two of those patients had sequelae including deafness, paralysis, and epilepsy. VT patients (2 patients) all had temporal, occipital bone and cervical vertebrae defects. None had Cerebrospinal fluid fistulas but both died from medullar compression (preceded by tetraparesis in one case). Overall, five out of six patients had type I Chiari malformation. Interferon seemed to be the most efficient medical treatment. Surgery included petrectomy, endonasal surgery for Cerebrospinal fluid fistula management, and neurosurgery for medullar management but could not guarantee long-term effects. The main issues in skull base defects are [[cerebrospinal fluid fistula]]s leaks and [[medulla]]r [[compression]]s. Surgical treatment is necessary in both cases but can only be satisfactory if general medical treatment can stabilize the disease ((Simon F, Luscan R, Khonsari RH, Toubiana J, Belhous K, James S, Blauwblomme T, Zerah M, Denoyelle F, Donadieu J, Couloigner V. Management of Gorham Stout disease with skull-base defects: Case series of six children and literature review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2019 Sep;124:152-156. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.06.002. Epub 2019 Jun 5. PMID: 31195309.)). ===== Case reports ===== A 27-year-old man was diagnosed with GSD with the involvement of the maxillofacial bones and skull base. The patient developed SBO; LMS resulted from progressive osteolysis, and the patient died of an associated brainstem stroke. Careful follow-up with special emphasis on the early detection of intracranial complications is critical in patients presenting with progressive GSD with involvement of the skull base ((Nozawa A, Ozeki M, Hori T, Kato H, Ohe N, Fukao T. Fatal Progression of Gorham-Stout Disease with Skull Base Osteomyelitis and Lateral Medullary Syndrome. Intern Med. 2019 Jul 1;58(13):1929-1933. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2118-18. Epub 2019 Feb 25. PMID: 30799352; PMCID: PMC6663530.)) ---- A two-year-old female child with radiological signs mimicking those of raised [[intracranial pressure]] is discussed. The differential diagnosis consists of [[skull base tumor]]s, [[meningitis]], [[osteomyelitis]] of the [[skull base]], [[congenital hydrocephalus]], and congenital syndromes involving the skull base. Pathologically it can be very difficult to differentiate it from [[lymphangioma]] of the bone. Difficulty in establishing the diagnosis is discussed along with the failure of radiotherapy and palmidronate therapy to cause the arrest of the disease process and failure of surgery to provide stabilization. Girn et al. described the course of the disease in this child over the period of last eight years. This was the youngest case of Gorham's described so far ((Girn HR, Towns G, Chumas P, Holland P, Chakrabarty A. Gorham's disease of [[skull base]] and [[cervical spine]]--confusing picture in a two year old. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2006 Aug;148(8):909-13; discussion 913. doi: 10.1007/s00701-005-0806-x. Epub 2006 Jun 23. PMID: 16791440.)). ---- A 25-year-old woman with Chiari I malformation associated with Gorham's syndrome presented with aggressive paresthesia following bacterial meningitis. Axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) cisternography revealed Cerebrospinal fluid fistula in the right petrous apex. A presyrinx state was diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms and MRI findings. With the resolution of bacterial meningitis, the spinal edema and tonsillar ectopia also improved. Surgical repair of the Cerebrospinal fluid fistula was performed by an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to prevent recurrence of meningitis. The postoperative course was uneventful. Skull base osteolysis in Gorham's syndrome may induce Chiari I malformation and Cerebrospinal fluid fistula. We should pay attention to the acute progression of clinical symptoms because Gorham's syndrome may predispose to the development of Chiari I malformation and may be complicated by Cerebrospinal fluid fistula ((Nagashima H, Mizukawa K, Taniguchi M, Yamamoto Y, Kohmura E. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage and Chiari I malformation with Gorham's disease of the skull base: A case report. Neurol Neurochir Pol. 2017 Sep-Oct;51(5):427-431. doi: 10.1016/j.pjnns.2017.06.007. Epub 2017 Jul 13. PMID: 28743389.)). ---- A case of spinal and skull base Gorham's disease that was reversed by [[radiation therapy]] administered while the spine was supported by a [[halo-vest]] ((Mawk JR, Obukhov SK, Nichols WD, Wynne TD, Odell JM, Urman SM. Successful conservative management of Gorham disease of the skull base and cervical spine. Childs Nerv Syst. 1997 Nov-Dec;13(11-12):622-5. doi: 10.1007/s003810050155. PMID: 9454981.)).