Nasal glioma and ala defects.

Congenital nasal mid-line masses are rare, and nasal gliomas account for approximately 5% of all of them. They are benign lesion containing "ectopic brain tissue" Encephaloceles and gliomas are thought to have a close embryological origin and faulty closure of the anterior nasopore is suggested as a possible explanation. We present the case of an eight month old male who presented to us at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, London. He had a left sided nasal glioma and also an ipsilateral ala notch. Only two other reference were found commenting on this unusual link between nasal glioma's and ipsilateral ala defects. This association perhaps suggests an alternative more complex embryological origin to the nasal glioma.