Periodontoid pseudotumor with cranial retroclival extension and brainstem compression in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis: illustrative case.

In carefully selected patients with radiological evidence of chronic atlantoaxial instability and favorable C1-2 anatomy, posterior stabilization may represent an effective primary strategy for managing periodontoid pseudotumor, even in cases with cranial extension. This approach may mitigate the morbidity associated with anterior mass resection, although its generalizability is limited by the single-case design and short-term follow-up. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE26169.