Radiopathological characteristics of cerebellar malignant glioma in adults

Abstract

Our aim was to extract the radiopathological features of cerebellar malignant glioma in adults from the four cases we encountered. All four cases (two men and two women, aged 52–80 years; mean age, 67 years) had a floating sensation or vertigo at the onset of their disease. Initially, these patients were given a diagnosis of cerebellar infarction or cavernous angioma, or had faint abnormalities in the cerebellum that were overlooked. These patients were followed up for 2–14 months (mean, 6 months), and the tumor was detected when their clinical symptoms deteriorated. The tumor was located in the hemisphere in one patient and in the vermis in three patients. MRI revealed ring-like enhancement in two patients and nodular enhancement in two patients. All patients underwent subtotal tumor resection, followed by postoperative radiochemotherapy. However, three patients died at 16 to 44 months (mean, 28 months), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination was observed in three patients. Two cases were classified as WHO grade III and two as WHO grade IV. The pathological features were typical of malignant glioma, partially presenting the features of low-grade glioma, such as pilocytic, astrocytic, or oligodendroglial components. Nuclear pleomorphism and vascular endothelial proliferation were prominent, and micronecrosis was relatively less evident. The MIB-1 index was 12%–40%, and most of the patients were p53 protein positive. At the onset of cerebellar malignant glioma, diagnostic imaging shows few signs of brain tumor. Thereafter, tumors grow in a short period of time, following a rapid clinical course. Because cerebellar malignant glioma is a rare disease, it is difficult to differentiate it from metastatic brain tumors and primary central nervous system lymphoma by preoperative imaging. Some patho logical features suggesting malignant transformation from low-grade glioma were detected.