A two-year-old male, with delayed neuropsychomotor development underwent computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging ([Figure]). The diagnosis was persistent craniopharyngeal canal.
Figure A: Magnetic resonance, constructive interference in steady state 3D sequence, sagittal plane; B: Magnetic resonance, T1, sagittal plane; C: Magnetic resonance, T2, axial plane; D: Computed tomography, bone window, axial plane. The persistence of the craniopharyngeal canal (arrows in C and D), and the pituitary remnant inside (arrows in A and B). Note that the remnant of the pituitary gland is lower than usual in the nasopharyngeal roof.
Persistent craniopharyngeal canal is a rare congenital anomaly of the skull base and is defined as a well-corticated osseous canal, extending from the roof of the nasopharynx to the base of the sella, over the sphenoid corpus, allowing the pituitary gland to present as a nasopharyngeal mass. Its origin may represent the remnant of the route of Rathke's pouch[1]. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging evaluate the content and limits of the canal well, preventing surgical iatrogenesis, such as hypopituitarism and cerebrospinal fluid leakage[2].
