Aggressively recurring cervical intramedullary anaplastic astrocytoma in a pregnant patient

Background: Many patients with spinal juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma can experience prolonged remission after resection. However, some reports suggest that pregnancy may be associated with progression. Case Description: The authors provide an image report highlighting a case of rapid and aggressive transformation of an intramedullary astrocytoma of the cervical spine in a pregnant patient. Over the course of 1 year, the lesion progressed from a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma to an anaplastic astrocytoma. Genetic testing revealed mutations associated with aggressive behavior. Conclusion: The case and associated imaging demonstrate the importance of close neurologic monitoring and counseling regarding risk of progression in pregnant patients with spinal gliomas.

Download Full-text

Malignant transformation in benign cerebellar astrocytoma

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.1978.49.1.0111 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 111-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

George M. Kleinman ◽

William C. Schoene ◽

Thomas M. Walshe ◽

Edward P. Richardson

Keyword(s):

Malignant Transformation ◽

Pilocytic Astrocytoma ◽

Partial Removal ◽

Content Type ◽

Cerebellar Astrocytoma ◽

Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma ◽

Pilocytic Astrocytomas ◽

Infiltrative Growth Pattern ◽

Fine Print

✓ The authors give follow-up information on Case 59 of Cushing's 1931 series of cerebellar astrocytomas. The patient died with a malignant cerebellar astrocytoma 48 years after partial removal of a previously benign astrocytoma at the same site. Including the present one, there have been only five reported cases in which this has occurred. Ordinarily, juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas are of extremely benign character, and it is well established that even with incomplete resections patients have survived for years without progression of the tumor. Not all of the cases so reported can be wholly accepted as representing malignant transformation of the tumor, but may instead be instances of recurrence of an inherently benign glioma since the presence of features such as endothelial hyperplasia or nuclear atypicality in a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma does not warrant its being classified as malignant. Features truly suggestive of malignancy are hypercellularity, frequent mitoses, necrosis, and, in some instances, a diffusely infiltrative growth pattern; all of these features were found in the present case.

Download Full-text

Extremely rare case of retropharyngeal space benign plexiform schwannoma - Excised through Smith- Robinson Approach

Surgical Neurology International ◽

10.25259/sni_317_2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 182

Author(s):

Rajendra Sakhrekar ◽

Vishal Peshattiwar ◽

Ravikant Jadhav ◽

Bijal Kulkarni ◽

Sanjiv Badhwar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Spine ◽

Rare Case ◽

Neck Region ◽

Retropharyngeal Space ◽

Case Description ◽

Head And Neck Region ◽

Plexiform Schwannoma ◽

Spine Mr ◽

The Right ◽

Slow Growing

Background: Approximately 25–45% of schwannomas are typically slow-growing, encapsulated, and noninvasive tumors that occur in the head-and-neck region where they rarely involve the retropharyngeal space. Here, we report deep-seated benign plexiform schwannoma located in the retropharyngeal C2-C5 region excised utilizing the Smith-Robinson approach. Case Description: A 30-year-old male presented with dysphagia and impaired phonation attributed to an MR documented C2-C5 retropharyngeal schwannomas. On examination, the lesion was soft, deep seated, and extended more toward the right side of the neck. Utilizing a right-sided Smith-Robinson’s approach, it was successfully removed. The histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a plexiform schwannoma. Conclusion: Retropharyngeal benign plexiform schwannomas are rare causes of dysphagia/impaired phonation in the cervical spine. MR studies best document the size and extent of these tumors which may be readily resected utilizing a Smith-Robinson approach.

Download Full-text

Peduncular Hallucinosis as First Presentation of Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma

The Indian Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1007/s12098-015-1935-8 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 83 (7) ◽

pp. 736-737 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sugata Narayan Biswas ◽

Souvik Biswas ◽

Partha Pratim Chakraborty

Keyword(s):

Pilocytic Astrocytoma ◽

Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma ◽

Peduncular Hallucinosis

Download Full-text

Supratentorial juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma in a young adult with Silver–Russell syndrome

British Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.1080/02688690802044076 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 776-777 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

E. Fenton ◽

D. Refai ◽

W. See ◽

D. J. Rawluk

Keyword(s):

Young Adult ◽

Pilocytic Astrocytoma ◽

Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma ◽

Silver Russell Syndrome

Download Full-text

Medulloblastoma and juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma presenting as synchronous primary brain tumors in a child

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2009.9.peds09211 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 149-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andrew Jea ◽

Ernesto Coscarella ◽

Murali Chintagumpala ◽

Meena Bhattacharjee ◽

William E. Whitehead ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumors ◽

Mr Imaging ◽

Pilocytic Astrocytoma ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cerebellar Hemisphere ◽

Pathological Examination ◽

Primary Brain Tumors ◽

Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma ◽

Multiple Primary ◽

Different Cell Types

Multiple metastatic brain tumors and multifocal primary brain tumors of a single histological type have been published in the adult and pediatric literature. However, the simultaneous occurrence of multiple primary brain tumors with different cell types is rare. Even more rare is the pediatric presentation of multiple primary brain tumors with different cell types. The authors describe the case of an 8-year-old boy who presented with a 2-week history of progressive headache, nausea and vomiting, and imbalance. Brain MR imaging demonstrated a heterogeneously enhancing mixed solid/cystic mass of the left cerebellar hemisphere and a larger, midline, more homogeneously enhancing lesion of the superior vermis. Spinal MR imaging was unremarkable. The patient underwent a suboccipital craniotomy and subsequent gross-total resection of both mass lesions. Pathological examination revealed the left cerebellar and superior vermian lesions to be a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma and a medulloblastoma, respectively. The patient did well in the immediate postoperative period, was discharged home, and underwent neurooncological follow-up. To the best of the authors' knowledge, they describe the first known pediatric case in which a medulloblastoma and a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma presented as synchronous primary brain tumors. They review the literature on multiple primary brain tumors with different histological characteristics and rehash potential mechanisms for their development.

Download Full-text