Early dural metastasis from a case of glioblastoma with primitive neuroectodermal differentiation: A case report and literature review.

Glioblastoma with a primitive neuroectodermal (PNET) variant is a rare primary parenchymal tumor. Only a few cases of extraparenchymal metastasis are reported in world literature. Although the overall survival duration of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) with primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) variety may be prolonged in comparison to classical glioblastoma, the metastatic trend is completely different, and the prognosis is worse. We report an early dural metastasis of pure PNET component appearing in a case of primary glioblastoma with PNET variant. The lesson learned from this case is to look for early craniospinal metastasis in GBM patient with PNET component, even after completion of adjuvant radiochemotherapy.

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of Palatal Minor Salivary Glands with Intracranial Extension: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of both major and minor salivary glands. Although there are reports of parotid MEC tumors extending intracranially via the facial nerve, intracranial extension from MEC originating from minor salivary glands in the palate has not previously been reported. This report presents a case of MEC arising from the minor salivary glands of the palate and extending into the middle fossa via the foramen rotundum with perineural invasion of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve. The patient received surgical intervention via a combined otolaryngology and neurosurgery approach to achieve gross total resection of the tumor. This was followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. The epidemiology, histopathology, and treatment of MEC originating from salivary glands are discussed.

Outcome of resection of WHO Grade II meningioma and correlation of pathological and radiological predictive factors for recurrence.

This study investigated whether extent of surgical resection (Simpson and Shinshu grade) along with pathological and radiological factors influence the tumor control and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients with World Health Organization (WHO) grade II meningiomas. The clinical, radiological and surgical notes on the 59 patients with WHO grade II meningioma managed at our institution over 20years were retrospectively reviewed. In this study, median survival time was 41months. The overall recurrence rate in Simpson grades I and II resection was 31%. In grades III and IV, the overall recurrence rate was 73%, and this high recurrence rate in these groups was confined within 5years. In Cox regression analysis, combined data of grades (I and II)/complete resection showed a significant difference in RFS compared to grades (III and IV)/subtotal resection (p=0.0001). A similar trend of RFS (p=0.0001) was observed with the Shinshu grading system of resection. In addition, a Ki-67% marker for proliferation less than 15% (p=0.029), absence of certain radiological features including heterogeneous enhancement, cyst formation and peritumoral edema (p=0.006), and repeat surgery for recurrent meningioma was associated with better survival (p=0.014). However, radiosurgery did not have a beneficial role in the treatment of recurrence of atypical meningioma. The Simpson grading system is the primary predictor of recurrence of WHO grade II meningioma after resection. In addition, certain pathological and radiological features need to be considered as possible factors of recurrence after resection. Lastly, depending on the likely risks and surgical morbidity, repeat surgical resection should be performed for recurrent atypical meningioma.

Symptomatic osteolipoma of the tuber cinereum masquerading as calcified retroclival mass.

We present a case of symptomatic osteolipoma of the tuber cinereum in a 51 year old male with rapid visual deterioration over several months leading to bilateral visual loss. Preoperatively the lesion masqueraded as a calcified retroclival mass. Intracranial osteolipomas are rare benign lesions that are usually asymptomatic and have an indolent course. Additionally, we discuss our intraoperative findings highlighting the technical challenges encountered along with a review of the English language literature on histologically proven intracranial osteolipomas.

Spinal fibromatosis: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Spinal fibromatosis is a unique subset of fibromatosis that is only anecdotally described in the literature in sporadic case reports. According to our review of the literature, only 11 cases of spinal fibromatosis have been previously documented. This paucity of clinical data limits our understanding of its presentation and treatment. PURPOSE: The authors present the first two cases of spinal fibromatosis encountered at their institution, and review the literature of reported cases to elucidate the presentation and outcomes of patients with this rare tumor. STUDY DESIGN: A report of two cases and review of the literature. METHODS: The two patients in our case report were women aged 45 and 38 years. Both of the patients presented to our clinic after previous excisional biopsy of a spinal mass, 17 years and 1 year later, respectively, with pain and paresthesias that recapitulated their former symptoms. Thirteen cases, including the two described in the current article, were culled from the literature. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enhancing lesion in the posterior elements of the spinal column in the first case and a paraspinal soft tissue mass in the second case. The tumors were histologically defined by haphazardly arranged, elongated, and slender spindle cells separated by abundant collagen without mitoses or necrosis. Surgical management resulted in intralesional resection in the first case and en bloc resection in the second case. By 40 and 10 months after surgery, both patients remain without neurologic deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Among 13 cases of spinal fibromatosis, pain with or without a mass is the most common symptom at presentation. Tumor etiology is evenly distributed between de novo origin and surgical trauma. Treatment outcomes, although, cannot be determined from the limited data currently available.