Nasal Glioma

Steven D. Billings, MD

Clinical photograph shows a nodular lesion on the bridge of the nose in this infant. This is a common site, but a nasal glioma can also form a polypoid intranasal mass.

Graphic of a nasal glioma shows a mass of dysplastic glial tissue at the nasal dorsum. Note the absence of a connection to the intracranial contents.

TERMINOLOGY

Abbreviations

Nasal glioma (NG)

Synonyms

Heterotopic glial tissue
Glial heterotopia

Definitions

Rare congenital anomaly
- Heterotopic glial tissue
  - “Glioma” is misnomer as nasal glioma is nonneoplastic tissue
- Well-circumscribed round, ovoid, or polypoid mass
- Not locally invasive

CLINICAL ISSUES

Epidemiology