Therapeutic strategies for durable response in plasma cell granulomas in the central nervous system

Inflammatory pseudotumor, the great mimicker: A case report

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a rare lesion, especially at the level of the central nervous system. Its etiology is unknown and the most accepted hypothesis is that it is the consequence of an exaggerated immune response. We present the clinical case of a young Senegalese male, with a history of epilepsy secondary to severe cranioencephalic trauma in childhood, who presented with new epileptic seizures. Imaging tests showed a lesion in the anterior fossa intimately attached to the meninges, so the initial diagnosis was meningioma. A bifrontal craniotomy and microsurgical excision were performed. The definitive anatomopathological analysis concluded that the lesion is an inflammatory pseudotumor whose origin is secondary to a disproportionate reparative process after cranioencephalic trauma.

Management Strategies of Plasma Cell Granuloma Involving the Central Nervous System: A Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Plasma cell granuloma (PCG) is a rare clinical entity seen in the neurosurgical literature. It has often been referred to as inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor or inflammatory pseudotumor. No well-defined management guidelines exist in the literature.

METHODS

Using PRISMA guidelines, we systematically reviewed the literature in PubMed and Google Scholar using MeSH terms: intracranial plasma cell granuloma, myofibroblastic tumor, intracranial pseudotumor, spinal plasma cell granuloma. We analyzed the clinical presentation, treatment strategies, clinical outcomes, and follow-up across different studies.

RESULTS

Eighty-three studies were included presenting 108 cases. Primary extracranial disease was seen in 4 patients and primary central nervous system (CNS) disease in 104. In the combined cohort, multicompartmental disease was seen in 22 (20.8%) patients. Headache (n=40, 42.59%) was the most common clinical symptom. Surgical excision (n=86, 79.6%) was the most common primary treatment used. Radiation therapy, steroids, and chemotherapy (methotrexate/6-mercaptopurine/rituximab) were also used. Disease recurrence was noted in 25 (33.3%) patients and residual disease in 33 (30.5%). Mortality was seen in 4 (3.7%) patients. In the cranial PCG subgroup (n=87), 81 (93.1%) patients had solitary lesions, and 6 (6.8%) had multiple lesions. Recurrence after primary surgery was noted in 27.58% (n=24). In the spinal PCG subgroup (n=17), the thoracic spine was the most common location (n=9, 52.9%) and recurrence was seen in 5.84% (n=1).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination of multiple treatment modalities is needed when approaching this complex disease. Spinal PCGs respond favorably to gross total excision, with a low recurrence rate. Cranial PCGs warrant intense follow-up with secondary chemotherapy/radiation/steroids in recurrent cases.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the central nervous system: A case report

BACKGROUND

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) occurring in the central nervous system is very rare, and thus its pathogenesis is unknown. This case report and literature review aimed to explore the pathogenesis, clinical features, imaging findings, pathological characteristics, immunohistochemical characteristics, diagnoses, treatments, and risks of postoperative recurrence of IMT in the central nervous system.

CASE SUMMARY

A 67-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with an exophthalmic protrusion and double vision in the left eye that had persisted for 3 mo. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 2.4 cm × 1.3 cm heterogeneous large mass in the bottom of the left anterior cranial fossa, which was closely related to the dura mater. Before surgery, we suspected the mass to be meningioma. The entire mass was successfully removed under neuronavigation and electrophysiological monitoring, and postoperative pathology indicated an IMT with extensive infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells and scattered multinucleated giant cells. Head MRI at the 3-mo follow-up showed that the tumor at the bottom of left anterior cranial fossa had been completely resected without recurrence.

CONCLUSION

From the histological, immunohistochemical, and genetic analyses, the present case suggests that the pathogenesis of IMT-CNS is related to autoimmunity.