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
