Transtentorial spread of glioblastoma multiforme to cerebellopontine angle – A rare case report

Abstract

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common central nervous system malignant tumor in adults with 48.3% of cases. Despite it, the presence of transtentorial spread is uncommon, with few patients reported in the literature. In this study, the authors report a case of GBM transtentorial spread to cerebellopontine angle after resection and adjuvant treatment. Case Description: A 55-year-old male patient with GBM, previously submitted to surgical resection and adjuvant treatment with radiotherapy and quemotherapy. Fourteen months after the first surgery, he developed headaches associated with dysphagia and dysphonia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a recurrence of the left parietal lesion and a new mass in the right cerebellopontine angle. The patient underwent successful surgical resection of both lesions. Chemotherapy was maintained after the surgery. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, there are few cases of GBM metastasis to the cerebellopontine angle reported in the literature. Surgical management should be considered in cases of intracranial hypertension and patients with good performance status.

The Current Landscape of Glioblastoma Biomarkers in Body Fluids

“…The presence of CTCs in GBM has been a topic of discussion for many years. GBM is known for its high aggressiveness and invasiveness, but it predominantly remains localized to the brain, with extracranial metastases being extremely rare, affecting only 0.5-2% of patients and typically involving sites like the lungs, bone, lymph nodes, or liver [30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. Mounting evidence has shown that the presence and quantity of CTCs in bodily fluids are associated with glioblastoma progression, treatment response, and patient survival, indicating their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.…”