Abstract
Multicentric gliomas are interesting and well-recognised entities with a yet unknown rate of occurrence. Single cases or small series are reported in the literature accessible to us, and we think this is the first large series describing true multicentric gliomas. We reviewed 25 patients selected according to the criteria defined by Batzdorf and Malamud. Multicentricity was found in 2% of patients with malignant gliomas. Longer survival was observed in patients who underwent surgical excision of the multicentric lesions. Multicentric tumours are rare clinical entities. Our data suggest that they should be surgically removed whenever possible, and histopathologic examination of the lesions is always advisable if they are located in sites inaccessible to surgery. Stereotactic biopsy represents a safe and satisfactory method for achieving sure diagnosis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bailey P, Cushing HA (1926) Classification of the tumors of the glioma group on a histogenetic basis with a correlated study of prognosis. Lippincott, Philadelphia, p 175
Batzdorf U, Malumid N (1963) The problem of multicentric gliomas. J Neurosurg 20:122–136
Russel DS, Rubinstein LJ (1977) Pathology of tumors of the central nervous system, 4th edn. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 240–242
Reagan TJ, Frieman IS (1973) Multiple cerebral gliomas in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 36:523–528
Bradley WL (1880) Case of gliosarcomatous tumors of the brain. Proc Conn Med Soc 2:39–41
Bassoe P (1908) Multiple ependymal glioma. Arch Intern Med 2:194–200
Borovich B, Mays M, Gellei B, Peyser E, Yahel MA (1976) Multifocal glioma of the brain. J Neurosurg 45:229–232
Chadduck WM, Roycroft D, Brown MW (1983) Multicentric glioma as a cause of multiple cerebral lesions. Neurosurgery 13:170–175
Courville CB (1936) Multiple primary tumors of the brain. Review of the literature and report of twenty-one cases. Am J Cancer 26:703–731
Pineda A (1964) Multicentric gliomas. J Neurosurg 21:805–810
Prather JL, Long JM, van Heertum R, Hardman J (1976) Multicentric and isolated multifocal glioblastoma multiforme simulating metastatic disease. Br J Radiol 48:10–15
Shiefer W, Hasenbein B, Schmidt H (1978) Multicentric glioblastoma: methods of diagnosis and treatment. Acta Neurochir 42:89–95
Solomon A, Perret GE, McCormick WF (1969) Multicentric gliomas of the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. Case report. J Neurosurg 31:87–93
Barnard RO, Geddes JF (1987)The incidence of multifocal cerebral gliomas. A histologic study of large hemisphere sections. Cancer 60:1519–1531
Budka H, Podreka I, Reisner TH, Zeiller K (1980) Diagnostic and pathomorphological aspects of glioma multiplicity. Neurosurg Rev 3:230–241
Moniz E, Lima A (1929) L'epreuve encephalographique dans un cas de tumeurs multiples du cerveau. Rev Neurol 1:1142–1147
Kyritsis A, Levin VA, Yung WKA, Leeds N (1993) Imaging patterns of multifocal gliomas. Eur J Radiol 16:163–170
Bussone G, Sinatra MG, Boiardi A, Lazzaroni M, Mariani C, Allegranza A (1979) A case of glioblastoma with multiple centers above and below the tentorium. J Neurol 221:187–192
Djalilian HR, Shah MV, Hall WA (1999) Radiographic incidence of multicentric malignant gliomas. Surg Neurol 51:554–558
Willis RA (1960) Pathology of tumors, 4th edn. Butterworth, London, p 811
Zulch KJ (1957) Brain tumors. Their biology and pathology. Springer, New York, pp 74–76, 116–120
Kotwica Z, Papierez W (1992) Cerebral and cerebellar glial tumors in the same individual. Neurosurg 30:439–442
Rotondo M, Parlato C, Zotta DC, Moraci A (1990) Simultaneous multiple brain tumors of different histological nature. Report of two cases. J Neurosurg Sci 34:57–60
Cerisoli M, Ambrosetto P, Giuliani M, Bernardi B (1980) Glioma cerebrale e midollare in uno stesso individuo: multiplo e multicentrico? Riv Neurol 50:327–337
Bastian FO, Parker JC (1970) A rare combination of multicentric gliomas: a problem of interpretation. Am J Clin Pathol 54:839–844
Bhangui GR, Roy S, Tandon PN (1977) Multiple primary tumors of the brain including medulloblastoma in the cerebellum. Cancer 39:293–297
Deen HG Jr, Laws ER (1981) Multiple tumors of different cells types. Neurosurgery 8:20–25
Finkemeyer H (1961) Das Glioblastoma in den verschiedenen Hirnregionen. Beitr Neurochir. Barth, Leipzig
Flanigan S, German WJ (1968) Fibrillary astrocytomas, cerebellar (1940) and spinal (1966). Case report. J Neurosurg 28:70–73
Flock H (1937) Über die Häufigkeit der Gliome. Frankfurt Z Pathol 50:289–303
Globus JH, Strauss L (1926) Spongioblastoma multiforme. A primary malignant form of brain neoplasm: its clinical and anatomic features. Arch Neurol Psych 14:139–191
Heuch I, Blom GP (1986) Glioblastoma multiforme in three family members, including a case of true multicentricity. J Neurol 233:142–144
Hochberg FH, Pruitt A (1980) Assumptions in the radiotherapy of glioblastoma. Neurology 30:907–911
Jaskolski D, Zawirski M, Wisniewska G, Papierz W (1988) A case of multicentric glioma of cerebellum and brain. Zentralbl Neurochir 49:124–127
Jomin M, Lesoin F, Lozes G, Delandsheer JM, Biond A, Krivosic I (1983) Les gliomes a foyers multiples. A propos de 10 observations. Neurochirurgie 29:411–416
Leifer D, Moore T, Ukena T, Wilner D, Thor A, Hedley-Whyte ED (1989) Multifocal glioblastoma with liver metastases in the absence of surgery. Case report. J Neurosurg 71:772–776
Lorentzen KA (1960) Histological report of a case of oligodendroglioma malignum in the cerebral hemisphere with metastatic extension to the cerebellum. Acta Psychiatr Neurol Scand 25:241–251
Madonik MJ, Shapiro JH, Torack RM (1961) Multiple primary brain tumors. Report of a case with review of the literature. Neurology 11:430–436
Manzini C, Serra P (1952) I gliomi multipli dell' encefalo. Acta Neurochirur (Wien) 2:249–273
Misra BK, Steers AJW, Miller JD, Gordon A (1988) Multicentric glioma presenting with hemorrhage. Surg Neurol 29:73–76
Moertel CG, Dockerty MB, Baggenstoss AH (1961) Multiple primary malignant neoplasms. III. Tumors of multicentric origin. Cancer 14:238–248
Pfeifer B (1910) Psychische Störungen bei Hirntumoren. Arch Psychiatr Nerv Krankh 47:558–738
Rao KCVG, Levine H, Itani A, Sajor E, Robison W (1980) CT findings in multicentric glioblastoma: diagnostic-pathologic correlation. J Comput Assist Tomogr 4:187–192
Rawlings Ce III, Bullard DE, Burger PC, Friedman AH (1987) A case of Ollier's disease associated with two intracranial diseases. Neurosurgery 21:400–403
Salles M, Gouaze A, Monnerie R, Jobard P, Santini JJ, Barjou B (1967) A propos de trois observations reposant le probleme des gliomes multiples. Neurochirurgie 13:627–631
Salvati M, Ferrari M, Malesi A, Zamponi C, Gagliardi FM (1988) Glioma multicentrico presentazione di un caso. Riv Neurol 58:189–192
Sciolla R, Sicuro L, Regolo P, Pagni CA (1987) Multiple diverse intracranial and intramedullary spinal tumors. Report of a case. J Neurosur Sci 31:191–194
Sehgal AD, Gardner WJ (1964) Separate glioma of spinal cord and cerebellum in an individual. J Neurosurg 21:802–804
Sherer HJ (1940) The forms of growth in glioma and their practical significance. Brain 63:1–35
Shoenberg BS (1987) Multiple primary neoplasms and the nervous system. Cancer 40:1961–1967
Solitare GB (1962) Cerebellar and cerebral gliomas occurring in the same individual. J Neurosurg 19:1079–1084
Sundaresan N, Galicich JH, Tomita T, Shapiro W, Krol G (1981) Computerized tomography findings in multifocal glioma. Acta Neurochir 59:217–226
Tanghetti B, Gatta G, Giunta F, Marini G (1980) Multiple gliomas of the brain. Report of three cases. J Neurosurg Sci 24:155–159
Tooth HH (1912) Some observation on the growth and survival of intracranial tumors, based on the records of 500 cases, with special reference to the pathology of the gliomata. Brain 35:61–108
Zamponi N, Rychlicki F, Ducati A, Regnicolo L, Salvolini, Ricciuti RA (2001) Multicentric glioma with unusual clinical presentation. Child's Nerv Syst 17:101–105
Bhangui GR, Roy S, Tandon PN (1977) Multiple primary tumors of the brain including medulloblastoma in the cerebellum. Cancer 39:293–297
Hashimoto H, Yonezawa T, Sakaki T, Tsunoda S (1994) A multicentric glioma exhibiting three supratentorial lesions. No Shinkei Geka 22:81–84
Pell MF, Revesz T, Thomas DG (1991) Multicentric malignant glioma. Br J Neurosurg 5:631–634
Jelsma R, Bucy PC (1967) The treatment of glioblastoma multiforme of the brain. J Neurosci 27:338–400
Marshall LF, Jennet B, Longot KW (1974) Needle biopsy for the diagnosis of malignant gliomas. JAMA 228:1417–1418
Kitanaka C, Shitara N, Nakagomi T, Nakamura H, Genka S, Akanuma A, Aoyama H, Takakura K (1989) Post radiation astrocytoma: report of two cases. J Neurosurg 70:469–474
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Salvati, M., Caroli, E., Orlando, E.R. et al. Multicentric glioma: our experience in 25 patients and critical review of the literature. Neurosurg Rev 26, 275–279 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-003-0276-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-003-0276-7