Primary Glioblastoma of the Cerebellopontine Angle : Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is located most frequently in the cerebral hemispheres. Glioblastoma presenting as an extraaxial mass of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) is very rare in adults. We report a rare case of GBM arising in the CPA. The patient was a 71-year-old female, who complained of progressive gait disturbance and poor memory. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 1.4×1.3 cm mass in the left CPA, with broad base to the petrous bone, showing homogenous enhancement. Follow-up MRI showed a rapid increase in size of mass (2.7×2.2 cm) with a necrotic portion. A stereotactic biopsy was done under the guidance of navigation system, and the histopathologic diagnosis was GBM, World Heath Organization grade IV. Further surgical resection was not performed considering her general condition, and the patient underwent concurrent chemotherapy with radiation therapy. Although rare, the possibility of glioblastoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of atypical CPA tumor.

Glioblastoma in the Cerebellopontine Angle in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type I: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…Most of these tumors have an intra-axial site of origin within the cerebellum or pons and appear to exhibit secondary exophytic extension into the CPA. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Only three of the described lesions involved the IAC. 3,5,12 None of the patients in the literature had syndromic or genetic predispositions that contributed to tumorigenesis.…”

“…4,5 Within the CPA, they typically arise intra-axially from the cerebellum or pons with lateral exophytic extension. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Internal auditory canal (IAC) involvement is rare, with very few cases reported in the literature. 3,5,12 There is no documented association between CPA glioblastomas and genetic or syndromic disorders.…”

Glioblastoma Multiforme Localizado no Ângulo Pontocerebelar. Relato de caso

“…O glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) ocorre entre 15% a 20% dos tumores primários do sistema nervoso central (SNC), sendo mais comum a localização supratentorial e acomete mais a faixa etária entre quinta e sexta décadas da vida 3,8,12 . Seu desenvolvimento geralmente é secundário a astrocitoma anaplásico ou difuso 3 .…”

“…Seu desenvolvimento geralmente é secundário a astrocitoma anaplásico ou difuso 3 . Sua localização na fossa posterior é considerada rara 4,7,8,10,12,14,15 .…”

“…O GBM cerebelar com crescimento exofítico ou com invasão leptomeningéia para o ângulo pontocerebelar deve ser considerado no diagnóstico diferencial de lesões atípicas nesta região 8,10,20 . Os autores descrevem um caso de GBM localizado no ângulo pontocerebelar direito e discutem sua etiopatogenia.…”