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Malignant transformation of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma

  • Neurooncological Observation
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Summary

A 31-year-old woman presented with a pleomorphic xantho-astrocytoma (PXA) manifesting as epilepsy. The tumour was partially resected. Histological examination revealed cellular pleomorphism and cytoplasmic vacuolation consistent with PXA, but no mitoses, necrosis, or endothelial proliferation. Follow-up neuro-imaging showed the residual tumour had grown rapidly with dissemination in the spinal cord. The recurrent lesion was totally resected and was shown to be glioblastoma. The patient has survived without signs of recurrence for 36 months after adjuvant radiochemotherapy. The biological behaviour of PXA cannot be predicted based on the histological features and careful follow up is essential.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan

    T. Nakajima, T. Kumabe & T. Tominaga

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Kohnan Hospital, Sendai, Japan

    H. Shamoto

  3. Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan

    M. Watanabe

  4. Department of Pathology, Sendai National Hospital, Sendai, Japan

    H. Suzuki

Authors
  1. T. Nakajima
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  2. T. Kumabe
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  3. H. Shamoto
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  4. M. Watanabe
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  5. H. Suzuki
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  6. T. Tominaga
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Nakajima, T., Kumabe, T., Shamoto, H. et al. Malignant transformation of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 148, 67–71 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-005-0549-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-005-0549-8

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