Pterional craniotomy resolves symptoms in pure intracavernous chondroma cases

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Frontiers in Medicine Published April 14, 2026 Medically reviewed April 25, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

Key Takeaway

Consider pure intracavernous chondroma in the differential diagnosis of cavernous sinus tumors.

This study combines a single case report with a review of seven previously reported cases to evaluate the management of pure intracavernous chondromas. The population consisted of a 37-year-old male, and the setting was neurosurgery. The intervention involved a pterional craniotomy with a pretemporal transcavernous approach and extradural anterior clinoidectomy. No comparator group was included in this observational synthesis.

Regarding primary outcomes, preoperative symptoms resolved in the reported case, and all patients remained recurrence-free. Secondary outcomes highlighted significant radiological overlap with other skull base lesions and identified specific challenges in diagnosing these tumors. Follow-up data were available for the most recent assessments.

Safety and tolerability were not reported, and no adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, or specific tolerability metrics were documented. Key limitations include the rarity of pure intracavernous chondromas and the diagnostic difficulties posed by imaging overlap with other pathologies. Funding sources and conflicts of interest were not reported.

The practice relevance emphasizes the importance of including pure intracavernous chondromas in the differential diagnosis of cavernous sinus tumors. These findings provide insights into optimal surgical management strategies for this rare condition, though the evidence is limited by the small sample size and observational nature of the data.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

The cavernous sinus, often referred to as an “anatomic jewel box” due to its complex structure, presents significant challenges for neurosurgeons when performing tumor resections in this region. Tumors confined to the cavernous sinus are rare, with meningiomas and cranial nerve schwannomas being the most common. Pure intracavernous chondromas, however, are exceptionally rare, representing only a small fraction of intracranial chondromas. To date, only seven cases of pure intracavernous chondromas have been reported in the literature. Here, we report the case of a 37-year-old male who presented with a two-month history of double vision and radiological wor=90*--------up revealed a pure intracavernous sinus lesion. Gross total resection was achieved via a pterional craniotomy with a pretemporal transcavernous approach and extradural anterior clinoidectomy. The lesion was identified as a pure intracavernous sinus chondroma through a combination of radiological imaging, intraoperative observations, and histopathological analysis. At the most recent follow-up, the patient’s preoperative symptoms had been resolved, and he remained recurrence-free. We also conducted a review of the literature on pure intracavernous chondromas, examining the number of reported cases, demographics, clinical presentations, surgical management, and outcomes. The review highlighted the rarity of these tumors, the challenges in diagnosing them due to their radiological overlap with other skull base lesions, and the favorable outcomes associated with gross total resection. This case report emphasizes the importance of considering pure intracavernous chondromas in the differential diagnosis of cavernous sinus tumors and provides insights into their optimal surgical management.