Unique presentation of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma as a lytic skull lesion in an eight-year-old girl.

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (PXAs) are rare primary central nervous system neoplasms of childhood and early adulthood. While PXAs are intimately associated with the leptomeninges, there has never been a description of an extradural-extracranial manifestation of PXA until now. We describe a case of PXA where the patient presented with a calvarial lesion. We also review the differential diagnoses of lytic skull lesions in addition to PXA. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel