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Malignant ganglioglioma: case report and review of literature

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Abstract

We report a case of de novo malignant ganglioglioma. A 61-year-old male presented with a 12-day history of headaches and general malaise. Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging revealed an irregular enhancing mass in the left temporal lobe with associated dural enhancement and subacute subdural hematoma. The findings at surgery were of a vascular tumor intimately involving the surrounding white matter, with central necrosis. Histological and immunohistochemical studies showed an anaplastic ganglioglioma with World Health Organization grade IV characteristics. Gangliogliomas of the central nervous system are rare and are typified by a pediatric predilection and indolent behavior. A review of the de novo anaplastic and malignant gangliogliomas is presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, Keenan Research Centre, the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada

    Ryan DeMarchi & R. Loch Macdonald

  2. Department of Pathology, St. Michael’s Hospital, Keenan Research Centre, the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Suzy Abu-Abed & David Munoz

  3. Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ryan DeMarchi & R. Loch Macdonald

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  1. Ryan DeMarchi
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  2. Suzy Abu-Abed
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  4. R. Loch Macdonald
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Correspondence to R. Loch Macdonald.

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DeMarchi, R., Abu-Abed, S., Munoz, D. et al. Malignant ganglioglioma: case report and review of literature. J Neurooncol 101, 311–318 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-010-0248-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-010-0248-z

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