Lhermitte duclos disease: what to expect during surgery?

Lhermitte and Duclos first described the dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum in 1920. In the last 100 years, its clinical presentation, radiological features, pathological characteristics, and association with Cowden syndrome have been well described. However, documentation of surgical experiences is lagging. We here describe intraoperative experience during the removal of the tumor, which could help the operating surgeon plan and mental makeup.

Lhermitte–Duclos Disease Mimicking Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor: A Case Report

Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) is dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum, which is rare, tends to grow slowly, usually has good prognosis, and wherein the cerebellar cortex becomes thick and the central white matter is not observed. On MRI of the brain, it has hyperintense and hypointense presentations on T2- and T1-weighted scans, respectively. It has nonhomogenous contrasting pattern on T1-contrast scans. LDD can be seen unilaterally or bilaterally in the cerebellum. When the disease is located at the cerebellopontine angle, it can be mistaken for the tumors located in this region. Recurrence can occur postoperatively, which is rare. The present case is a rare one because the tumor was located at the cerebellopontine angle and radiologically mimicked cerebellopontine angle tumors.

Cerebellar Dysplastic Gangliocytoma: Case Report

Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD), or cerebellar dysplastic gangliocytoma, is a rare type of cerebellar tumor, from unknown origin. Patients can be asymptomatic for several years, but there are usually imprecise neurological signs for long periods.

Surgical treatment of Lhermitte–Duclos disease (dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum)

The study objective is to describe a clinical case of a rare disorder of the cerebellum, Lhermitte–Duclos disease.Clinical case. The Federal Neurosurgical Center (Novosibirsk) admitted a male patient, 40 years old. Medical history showed that in 2017 he underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt due to hypertensive hydrocephalus syndrome caused by space-occupying mass of the right hemisphere of the cerebellum. In June of 2017, the patient was consulted by a neurosurgeon. Later, an increase in the mass, partial atrophy of the optic disks were observed. Due to the patient’s complaints of headache, ataxia, vertigo, as well as insufficient effect of the shunt, microsurgical removal of the space-occupying mass in the cerebellum by right paramedian suboccipital craniotomy was performed. Gangliocytoma removal was performed under constant neurophysiological control which allowed to fully resect the gangliocytoma inside intact brain tissue. Histological and immunohistological examinations allowed to diagnose grade I dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum (Lhermitte–Duclos disease). In the postoperative period, brain symptoms regressed fully, vestibulocerebellar syndrome persisted. The patient was discharged in satisfactory condition. No negative dynamics were observed in 7 months of follow-up.Conclusion. Due to the rareness of Lhermitte–Duclos disease, currently there are no established approaches to treatment, however, in symptomatic course there are indications for surgical removal of the gangliocytoma. Radicality of resection should be correlated with the risk of neurological defects. In our case, surgical treatment allowed to improve the patient’s condition, prevent further progression of the gangliocytoma and obtain an accurate histological diagnosis.

A rare WHO Grade I Lesion of the Posterior Fossa with Recurrence Biological Behavior - Dysplastic Gangliocytoma of the Cerebellum: Case Report

Dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum (DGC) or Lhermitte-Duclos Disease is a rare lesion (World Health Organization [WHO] grade I) characterized by thickened folia and replacement of the internal granular layer by abnormal ganglion cells. More commonly, the compromised patients are young adults presenting ataxia, seizures, obstructive hydrocephalus, and increased intracranial pressure. Dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum is intimately associated with Cowden syndrome, a hereditary disorder caused by a germline mutation in the PTEN tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 10q23. Large neurons of DCG show vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Expansion of the internal granular layer determines vacuolization of the molecular layer and white matter, which can be related to the bright stripes identified on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Herein, the authors report a female patient who developed long- time recurrence of DGC and discuss pathological findings and differential diagnosis of this rare cerebellar lesion.

Rare Dysplastic Gangliocytoma of Cerebellum: A Case Report

Lhermitte and Duclos first described Dysplastic Gangliocytoma in 1920. Lhermitte Duclos Disease (LDD) is an extremely rare disorder of uncertain prognosis and pathogenesis. LDD is recognised as a part of Cowden Disease, which being an autosomal-dominant phacomatosis and cancer syndrome. Till date only about 225 cases of LDD have currently been reported in medical literature. It is most commonly seen in young adults with a peak incidence in third or fourth decade with signs and symptoms of cerebellar dysfunction or increased intracranial pressure leading to obstructive hydrocephalus. A 36-year-old female came to Neuromedicine Outpatient Department (OPD) in a Tertiary Care Superspecialty Hospital with chief complaints of headache and vomiting, difficulty in swallowing liquid food since two months with no significant family history. The patient’s general condition was not good with significant weakness on presentation. The patient was conscious, oriented with pulse rate of 78/bpm, blood pressure of 118/80 mm of Hg with bilateral clear chest with normal S1 S2 sound. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was found to be Eye response-4, Verbal response-5, Motor response-6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of patient showed large heterogeneous non-enhancing lesion involving left cerebellar hemisphere, vermis and cerebellar peduncle with widened cerebellar folia with a “Tigroid appearance”. A diagnosis of Cerebellar Gangliocytoma was made and was treated successfully with surgery and diagnostically proven with biopsy and immunohistochemistry. The background history of Cowden syndrome was not present in index case.