RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Anaplastic astrocytoma [AA; World Health Organization (WHO) grade III] is a diffusely infiltrative astrocytic brain tumor with anaplasia and represents 3.3% of primary brain tumors. Overall, 5-year median survival can range from 22% to 50%, depending on various prognostic features, including the patient's age, tumor location and genetics, resection, etc. Given the higher grade and increased likelihood of transformation to WHO-grade IV tumors (glioblastomas), these tumors are generally treated aggressively upfront. Headache and seizures are the most common symptoms, occurring in about 50% of the cases. Other symptoms, including memory loss, motor weakness, language deficit, and cognitive and personality changes, occur in 20% of cases. Standard treatment involves surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, but treatment options are greatly limited for progression and recurrence. This paper highlights the case of a 48-year-old male who presents with chronic progressive cephalgia and a new-onset seizure. We review the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with the treatment of AA. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a patient who presented with chronic progressive cephalgia, gradual right-sided weakness, an asymmetrical face, slurred speech, and a new-onset focal-to-bilateral seizure. A cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the left frontoparietal region, causing herniation of the cerebri to the right. The patient had a maximal tumor resection, and the histopathology showed tissue sections containing tumors that were infiltrative in the stroma, forming a diffuse pattern consisting of proliferation of oval, round, polygonal, spindle, pleomorphic oval nucleated cells, hyperchromatic, some nucleoli appearing prominent, and cytoplasmaeosinophilic. There were areas of stromal necrosis and mitosis [3/10 high power field (HPF)]. The pathology result was reported with AA. The patient underwent concomitant chemoradiation and followed oral chemotherapy with temozolomid. Subsequent imaging revealed a significant decrease in the tumor's size and a resolution of the compression of the brain parenchyma underneath. The Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) evaluation showed partial responses with good clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The case presented an AA that was responsive to radiotherapy and temozolomid chemotherapy. Despite being rare, knowledge of this malignant tumor type and a multidisciplinary approach to case management are essential to optimizing treatment results.
Asunto(s)
Astrocitoma , Humanos , Masculino , Astrocitoma/terapia , Astrocitoma/complicaciones , Astrocitoma/patología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias Encefálicas/terapia , Neoplasias Encefálicas/complicaciones , Neoplasias Encefálicas/patología , Organización Mundial de la Salud , Clasificación del TumorRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Due to their location, sellar region tumors can affect a patient's quality of life by mass compression effect and disrupting pituitary function. The treatment choice is determined by some factors, including the presence of mass effect and whether the tumor is secreting or non-secreting. This study assessed the preoperative and postoperative clinical manifestation, hormonal, and head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) profile of sellar region tumor in Dr. Saiful Anwar General Hospital, East Java. METHODS: This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional design. Data were taken from sellar region tumor registry of Dr. Saiful Anwar General Hospital from March 2023 to April 2024. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included in the study, with 18 (72%) women and 22 patients (88%) aged 41-60 years old. The most frequent neurological symptom was blurred vision (23 patients; 92%). Hormones checked were thyroid hormones [free T4 (FT4), T3, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)], prolactin, cortisol, growth hormone, and gonadotropic hormone [testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH)], but not all patients were checked for all these hormones. Patients were further classified into having low, normal, or high level of the respective hormones, and patients mostly had normal levels. Pituitary macroadenoma was the frequently suspected tumor from head MRIs (11 patients; 44%). Eleven patients underwent tumor excision. Ten patients showed pituitary adenoma and one patient showed pituicytoma on histopathological examination. Mean levels of FT4, T3, and prolactin were decreased after surgery, but TSH and cortisol levels were increased. On postoperative head MRI, four patients showed reduced mass size and one patient showed no residual lesion. CONCLUSIONS: While pituitary macroadenoma was suspected in most head MRIs in this study, most of them were likely non-secreting. Therefore, surgical approach remained the mainstay of treatment. The need for medical management for hormonal disturbances was minimal. While postoperative data were incomplete, some findings from our patients showed that surgical approach could indeed reduce mass effect by improving bitemporal hemianopsia and pituitary deficit.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Hipofisarias , Humanos , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Neoplasias Hipofisarias/cirugía , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Hospitales GeneralesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hemangioblastomas (HBLs) are uncommon tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), corresponding to 1% to 2.5% of all intracranial tumors. They can present sporadically or in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease along with a variety of benign and malignant tumors, and are most often located in the cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord. Although surgical resection is currently considered the main therapeutic option for symptomatic lesions, evidence supporting the application of microsurgery has not been systematically assessed. However, post-operative outcomes can vary depending on factors including disease location, number of lesions, and tumor characteristics that make complete resections difficult. The objective of this case report is to document a rare case of multiple HBL in a 45-year-old man, highlighting the need for further research, the absence of a standardized treatment protocol for appropriate management strategies. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 45-year-old man presented to the outpatient neurology department with a chief complaint of gradual weakness of the left side of his body, walking unsteadily, and seizure. Neurological examination revealed a positive dysmetria sign. According to his medical records, he was diagnosed with multiple HBL since August 2022 and subsequently underwent two times partial tumor resections, and a ventriculoperitoneal (VP)-shunt due to hydrocephalus. The latest magnetic resonance imaging examination shows improvement in the original tumor. He is currently receiving symptomatic therapy with complaints have improved. CONCLUSIONS: This case report highlights a rare occurrence of multiple HBL in a 45-year-old man. Surgical management of HBL was the most common modality and was suggested as an effective and optimal treatment, but the recurrence possibility of the cystic wall tumor must also be considered in the choice of treatment.