Nasal Glioma
Steven D. Billings, MD
Key Facts
Terminology
Rare congenital anomaly
Clinical Issues
Subcutaneous mass
Bridge of nose most common site
1/3 are intranasal
20% associated with communication to frontal lobes
Mandatory to exclude communication with brain prior to excision
Nodule or polyp
Microscopic Pathology
Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes
Loose fibrillary stroma
Immunoreactive for GFAP
Ancillary Tests
Positive for GFAP, S100 protein
 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
Incidence
Very rare
Rarely associated with other brain or systemic anomalies
Age
Newborns
Identified at birth or within 1st few years of life
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