Occipital condyle syndrome as a clinical sign of skull base metastases: the authors own material and literature review

The objective of the paper was to describe condylar syndrome as the typical manifestation of metastatic lesion of the posterior fossa base. Material and methods. We analyzed 9 cases of condyle syndrome in patients with metastatic lesions of the posterior fossa base. We describe the clinical and radiological signs of this rare syndrome, which are typical for metastatic lesion of that area. The main results. Condylar syndrome is rare, it occurs in 5,5% of patients with metastases to the scull base. Its clinical signs are unilateral occipital pain and homolateral peripheral paralysis of 12 th cranial nerve. Headaches worsen with movements of the head. If the tumor spreads to the jugular foramen, dysphagia and dysphonia appear; such cases are known as Collet-Sicard syndrome. Diagnosis is based on the clinical signs, MRI and CT. Treatment is complex and includes surgery and radiation therapy. Conclusion. Diagnosis of condylar and Collet - Sicard syndromes helps to treat metastatic lesions of the posterior fossa base in time.