Nasal cerebral heterotopia: nasal atretic cephalocele.

We report the case of a 4-year-old boy who presented with a congenital mass on the bridge of his nose. A magnetic resonance study failed to rule out a communication of the tumor with the cranial cavity. The lesion was totally removed. Histopathological study of the excised mass showed a peripheral zone of fibrous-connective tissue with a core of glial and neuronal elements. We discuss the origin of these masses and their relation to nasal cephaloceles. We suggest that this type of lesions should be included within the broader spectrum of atretic cephaloceles.