A case of pilocytic astrocytoma requiring tumor resection during pregnancy

Abstract

Abstract. Low-grade glioma (LGG) is often encountered in relatively young individuals, including women of childbearing age. Notably, case series describing pregnant women with LGG have been reported in the literature. The present study reported a case of pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) requiring tumor resection during pregnancy. The patient had a history of γ-knife radiotherapy for a brainstem tumor 17 years previously. The histological diagnosis was unclear. The tumor had remained stable following radiosurgery for 17 years, including during her first pregnancy. However, rapid tumor growth around the fourth ventricle occurred at week 25 of her second pregnancy. Therefore, an urgent tumor resection was performed despite the pregnancy. Partial resection was performed since the tumor had infiltrated the brainstem. The histological diagnosis was PA. The residual tumor volume decreased gradually following the delivery. Immunostaining of the tumor for the expression of progesterone receptor revealed focal staining. It is possible that reproductive factors, including specific hormonal changes during pregnancy, affected the tumor growth. The present study described this rare case of PA, which exhibited rapid growth and required urgent surgery during pregnancy. IntroductionLow-grade glioma (LGG) is often encountered in relatively young individuals, including women of childbearing age. Advances in the therapeutic management of LGG during the last decade and improvements in its prognosis are expected to assist young women with LGG in becoming pregnant. A number of case series are found in the literature describing pregnant women with LGG, either detected prior to pregnancy or newly diagnosed during pregnancy (1-10). In either case, its management is a particularly challenging situation since i) anti-tumor therapy is required, although the impact on the fetus or the pregnancy would require consideration or ii) the pregnancy would have to be discontinued, depending on the severity of the disease and the gestational age (10). Once a pregnancy with LGG is identified, patients, families, and neurosurgeons must recognize that they will encounter numerous difficult decisions at each stage of the pregnancy.The association between the behavior of the glioma and the pregnancy remains to be elucidated. Several previous studies have reported that the velocity of the diametric expansion of LGG increases during pregnancy (8) and that this acceleration may depend on multiple factors, including hormonal factors (11), growth factors (12), and hemodynamic changes (1,13), associated with pregnancy.Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is typically a slow-growing astrocytoma and is therefore, considered the 'most benign' of all the astrocytomas. It occurs predominantly in childhood and adolescence (14). Growth of PA during pregnancy is rarely reported. The present study reported a case in which PA growth occurred and urgent resection was required during pregnancy. The behavior of the glioma is focussed on during the pregnancy. Case reportA 30-year-old pregna...

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