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Gliosarcoma with osteosarcomatous features: a short illustrated review

  • Short Illustrated Review
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Abstract

Introduction

Gliosarcoma is a rare, malignant, biphasic brain tumor formed by both glioblastoma and sarcomatous components. Various lines of differentiation are described in the latter component, but most commonly fibrosarcomatous and pleomophic sarcoma are present. Osteosarcomatous features are exceedingly rare.

Objective

We report a case of gliosarcoma with osteosarcomatous features in a 33-year-old woman.

Methods

Histologically, the sarcomatous portion displayed a typical pattern of fibrosarcoma associated with areas of osteoid formation.

Results and conclusion

Immunohistochemical glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) expression was seen only in the glioblastoma portion. Clinicopathological characteristics and radiological data of this rare condition were reviewed. Possible differential diagnoses and potential histogenesis were also discussed.

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Acknowledgement

We thank Ms. Moufida Bouyahya, who provided writing assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathology Department, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, El Ain Road; 3029, Sfax, Tunisia

    Slim Charfi, Lobna Ayadi, Abdelmajid Khabir, Rim Kallel, Oussama Kharrat, Saloua Makni & Tahya Boudawara

  2. Medical Imaging Department, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia

    Emna Daoud & Zeineb Mnif

  3. Neurosurgical Department, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia

    Zaher Boudawara

Authors
  1. Slim Charfi
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  2. Lobna Ayadi
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  3. Abdelmajid Khabir
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  4. Emna Daoud
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  5. Rim Kallel
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  6. Oussama Kharrat
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  8. Zaher Boudawara
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  9. Saloua Makni
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  10. Tahya Boudawara
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Slim Charfi.

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Comment

The authors describe a case of a gliosarcoma with an osteosarcomatous component. Although gliosarcomas are not really seldom occurrences and we already know that brain tumors can show distinct differentiations—as in the case of glial or neuronal differentiation in the case of pediatric PNETs—and although we can imagine another sarcomatous differentiation even in gliosarcomas, we nonetheless miss the real proof of their occurrence.

This case illustrates exactly what we need.

Susanne Kuhn

Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany

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Charfi, S., Ayadi, L., Khabir, A. et al. Gliosarcoma with osteosarcomatous features: a short illustrated review. Acta Neurochir 151, 809–813 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0341-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0341-2

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