Optic nerve ganglioglioma. Case report

Suprasellar Ganglioglioma Arising from the Third Ventricle Floor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Gangliogliomas are uncommon intracranial tumors that include neoplastic and abnormal ganglion cells, and show positive immunohistochemical staining for GFAP and syn. This type of lesion occurs more frequently in the temporal lobe than in other areas; they are extremely rare in the suprasellar region. To the best of our knowledge, including our case, 19 cases of GGs have been found in the suprasellar region. Among them, five tumors invaded the optic nerve, nine tumors invaded the optic chiasm, one tumor invaded the optic tract, and two tumors invaded the entire optic chiasmal hypothalamic pathway. In the present study, we describe the first case of suprasellar GGs arising from the third ventricle floor that was removed through the endoscopic endonasal approach. In addition, we summarize the clinical characteristics of GGs, such as age of onset, gender distribution, MRI signs, main clinical symptoms, and treatment methods for GG cases.

Ganglioglioma of optic chiasma: A case report and review of literature

Background:

Gangliogliomas are neoplasms containing both astrocytic and neuronal components. We present a case of gangliogliomas of the optic chiasm, which are extremely rare pathologies.

Case Description:

A 16-year-old female patient referred to our clinic with gradual deterioration of vision for the age of 1 year mostly in the right eye. Ophthalmic examination confirmed reduced visual acuity with only perception of light in the left eye. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a solid mass lesion involving the hypothalamus and the optic chiasm, which was hypointense on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-WI, and marked homogenous contrast enhancement. The patient was operated and bulging of the optic chiasm and the site of lamina terminalis was seen. Subtotal resection of the tumor was achieved. Histopathological examination revealed ganglioglioma (WHO Grade I). Follow-up of the patient was for 3 years and 8 months with stable neurologic and radiologic findings.

Conclusion:

To the best of our knowledge, 20 cases, including ours, have been reported in the literature and a presurgical diagnosis of ganglioglioma is very infrequent with confused radiologically with low-grade pilocytic astrocytomas.

Bilateral Optic Pathway Ganglioglioma: The Fifth Case in the Literature

Gangliogliomas are mixed tumors which contain both glial and neuronal elements. The optic pathway is a very rare location for gangliogliomas, with less than 23 cases reported in the literature. Bilateral involvement of the entire optic pathway was reported in only 4 cases before. Because of similar radiological appearance of other pathological entities such as gliomas and craniopharyngiomas, histopathological diagnosis is essential. We report a ganglioglioma case that involved both optic pathways. A 12-year-old patient suffering from visual deterioration for 6 months was evaluated. After a visual field test and radiological examinations, a microsurgical biopsy procedure was performed. Pathological examination revealed dysplastic/neoplastic ganglion cells and neoplastic glial cells, and the diagnosis was a World Health Organization (WHO) grade 1 ganglioglioma. The patient is scheduled for adjuvant radiotherapy with the hope of prevention of progression.

Intraorbital ganglioglioma of optic nerve in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1

We report the case of an orbital optic nerve gangliogoma in a 55-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Clinical course neuroimaging findings, pathology, and treatment options of gangliogloma are discussed and contrasted with pilocytic astrocytomas of the optic nerve, a much more frequent visual pathway neoplasm in NF1 patients.

Optic pathway ganglioglioma with intraventricular cyst

Gangliogliomas originating in the optic pathway are rare, with less than 20 cases reported in the literature. Diffuse, bilateral involvement of the entire optico-chiasmatic pathway is exceptional. We report a case of suprasellar ganglioglioma that involved bilaterally the entire pregeniculate optic pathway. The patient presented with visual deficit, nystagmus, papilledema and acute biventricular hydrocephalus secondary to intraventricular cyst that required urgent surgery. Endoscopic fenestration of the tumoral cyst allowed control of hydrocephalus and decompression of the visual pathway. Through microsurgical procedure by pterional approach, partial removal of the tumor and histological diagnosis were accomplished 1 week later. The patient was managed with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. He presents stable residual disease at 4-year follow-up. Embryological origins, histological features, neuroradiological appearance, management and prognosis of optic pathway gangliogliomas are reviewed.

Multiple gangliogliomas of the optic pathway

We report a case of multiple gangliogliomas of the optic pathway in an 18-year-old boy. He presented with visual disturbance mainly in his left eye, non-specific headaches, and episodes of sensory disturbance in his left arm. Visual acuity was 6/9 and 6/24 in his right and left eye respectively. He did not have any Lisch nodules. Optic atrophy was noted in his left eye. MRI scan revealed multiple enhancing lesions involving the optic chiasm, left optic tract, right lateral geniculate body, and right optic radiation in the temporal lobe. Stereotactic biopsy of the temporal tumour confirmed ganglioglioma. Multiple gangliogliomas of the optic pathway has not been hitherto described.

Factors contributing to resectability and seizure outcomes in 44 patients with ganglioglioma

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate causes contributing to surgical resectability and seizure outcomes depending on various clinical and surgical factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The records of 44 patients with gangliogliomas surgically treated between April 1986 and March 2007, were retrospectively reviewed to assess presenting symptoms, resectability and seizure outcomes.

RESULTS

Tumors were located in the supratentorial areas in 33 cases, the infratentorial area in 9 cases and the spinal cord in 2 cases. Thirty-five cases underwent gross total removal and 9 cases underwent subtotal resection. Only 2 cases underwent postoperative radiotherapy and 2 cases underwent gamma knife surgery. Twenty-six patients presented seizure symptoms of which 22 cases were located in temporal lobe and 4 cases were located in the extratemporal lobe. Twenty-three patients (88.5%) were seizure-free after surgery. Two patients were Engel class II and another was Engel class III.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that tumor location and seizure-presenting symptoms are good predictors of gross total removal. Gross total removal of ganglioglioma had a better chance of leaving the patient seizure free after surgery rather incomplete resection. Our data do not support the concept that surgical methods, invasive monitoring and surrounding cortical malformation correlated with seizure-free outcome.

Cerebellar ganglioglioma

The location of ganglioglioma (GG) within the infratentorial compartment is unusual. The authors report a rare case of GG in the cerebellar hemisphere. A 12-year-old boy suffered from headache and gait disturbance. Neuroimaging studies demonstrated a large enhancing cerebellar mass with cystic components compressing the forth ventricle. After complete resection of the tumor, the patient became symptom free. Histological examination on the tumor disclosed glial cells and dysplastic ganglion cells. Although it is a rare tumor, in the appropriate clinical setting, a GG should be considered in the presence of a cerebellar mass with both solid and cystic components on magnetic resonance images in children.

Ganglioglioma of optic chiasma: case report and review of literature

CASE REPORT

We report a case of ganglioglioma of the optic chiasma in an 8-year-old child who presented with gradual deterioration of vision since the age of 3 years and complete loss by 8 years.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Intensive literature search by the authors showed only 12 cases of ganglioglioma involving the visual pathway reported so far. Report on our case is presented here along with review of literature.

Postoperative radiotherapy in cranial ganglioglioma

We performed an institutional database search for patients with ganglioglioma in order to evaluate postoperative radiotherapy in the light of our experience. This search identified 5 patients with a mean age of 23.3 (range, 9-54 years) treated between April 1994 and April 2003. The latter date was chosen to allow a minimum follow-up of 1 year at the time of our analysis. Median follow up was 7 years (range, 1.5-11 years). Gross total tumor resection could only be achieved in one case, while other four patients had been referred after subtotal tumor excisions. All patients were treated postoperatively with conventionally fractionated (1.8-2 Gy/day) external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to a total dose of 54-60 Gy. Patients were treated with megavoltage beams using Co(60 )or 6-MV photons. None of the patients were lost to follow up with a median follow up time of 80 months (range, 5.5-122.5 months) and all patients were alive with no evidence of disease at last follow-up. We believe that long term follow-up is necessary to observe the relapse patterns and the significance of postoperative radiotherapy needs to be further evaluated with large patient numbers to remark a conclusive statement.

The optic nerve: radiologic, clinical, and pathologic evaluation

The radiologic investigation of the optic nerve plays an integral part in the diagnostic evaluation of diverse lesions of the optic pathways including inflammatory diseases, vascular disorders and benign and malignant tumors and these radiologic modalities consist principally of CT and MR imaging and, in vascular lesions, MR angiography and conventional angiography. The selection of radiologic studies and their focus is based on the ophthalmologic examination where the ophthalmologist can often determine the suspected location of lesions in the anterior or posterior visual pathways. Furthermore, inspection of the eye, including adnexal structures and funduscopy, provides additional information in the clinical assessment of these patients. With technical advances in the last few years, CT and MR imaging can detect lesions and determine their location and extent with high sensitivity and specificity. This article discusses the radiologic, clinical, and pathologic evaluation of the optic nerve.

Ganglioglioma of the right optic tract: Case report and review of the literature

We describe a case of ganglioglioma of the right optic tract in a 52-year-old woman. Review of the general literature discloses only 11 cases of tumors of the visual pathway that meet the histological criteria for such neoplasm. A detailed radiological description of our case and a review of the literature is provided.

Imaging of the optic nerve and visual pathways

The visual pathway extends from the globes anteriorly to the occipital cortex posteriorly. A wide variety of disease processes may produce visual dysfunction. Because the optic nerve is a fiber tract of the brain covered by meninges, it can be affected by many of the same pathologic processes that occur in the brain and meninges. Physical examination and diagnostic tests of visual function performed by the clinician can frequently identify the anatomic location of the causative lesion in the patient with vision loss. This enables the radiologist to optimize the imaging evaluation of the patient. This article reviews the normal anatomy of the optic nerve and visual pathways, presents computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques for evaluation of these structures, and discusses the pathologic processes intrinsic to the optic nerve and visual pathways.

Gangliogliomas: experience with 34 patients and review of the literature

Ganglioglioma is an uncommon central nervous system tumor. The role of adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy is undefined. The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathologic features and results of therapy for 34 patients with ganglioglioma treated at the University of California at Los Angeles. There were 18 women and 16 men. Median age was 18 years. Twenty-five tumors were low grade. Twenty-one patients underwent gross total resection. Three patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. The 4-year actuarial progression free and overall survival rates were 67% and 75%, respectively. The median time to progression was 14 months and all relapses were local. Factors significantly influencing progression-free or overall survival according to univariate analysis included degree of resection and tumor grade. Survival and relapse were not significantly influenced by any factor according to multivariate analysis. The progression-free survivals after gross total resection of low- and high-grade tumors were 78% and 75%, respectively. Respective rates after subtotal resection were 63% and 25%. Review of the literature demonstrates no role for radiotherapy after total resection of ganglioglioma or after partial removal of low-grade tumor. Radiation therapy appears to reduce the relapse rate after partial removal of high-grade lesions. A dose in excess of 5,000 cGy is necessary for ganglioglioma.

[Malignant course of a ganglioglioma: case report]

We present the case of a 8-years-old boy, admitted with a history of headache, nausea and vomiting. Cerebral angiography showed a non-vascular mass on frontal lobe. The patient underwent craniotomy and the lesion was removed. Neuropathological study revealed that the tumor was a ganglioglioma. The patient received pos-operative radiotherapy. On follow-up, 16 years after, a computed tomographic scan showed a recurrence of the tumor, and a second surgery revealed a glioblastoma multiform. Gangliogliomas are rare tumors of the central nervous system containing neoplastic ganglion cells and low grade neoplastic glial cells. The malignant degeneration occurs only in the glial component, so the prognosis of these tumors is related to the grade of that component.

Rapid growth of an optic nerve ganglioglioma in a patient with neurofibromatosis 1

BACKGROUND

Optic nerve gangliogliomas are extremely rate tumors of the central nervous system composed of elements of glial and neuronal origin. The clinical and biologic behavior of gangliogliomas depends on the glial component. Pilocytic gangliogliomas generally have a low growth rate and good ultimate prognosis. No definitive relation has yet been established between gangliogliomas and neurofibromatosis type 1.

METHODS

The authors describe the clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical features of an optic nerve ganglioglioma with several atypical findings. A review of the literature is provided.

RESULTS

An optic nerve glioma was diagnosed in a 16-year-old patient who had signs of neurofibromatosis type 1; the atypical clinical course involved a rapid progression of symptoms with a significant increase in tumor size. The tumor was removed surgically and found to be a ganglioglioma composed of pilocytic glial cells (immunoperoxidase-positive for glial fibrillary acid protein) and neurons (immunoperoxidase-positive for neuron specific enolase, synaptophysin, and neurofilament). A focal astrocytic area showed increased cellularity, several mitotic figures, and an elevated labeling index with Ki-67 immunoperoxidase staining.

CONCLUSION

Optic nerve gangliogliomas are rare tumors that cannot be distinguished clinically from pilocytic astrocytomas. Although these tumors usually grow slowly, careful follow-up is advised. The atypical histologic features are considered to be a manifestation of rapid local growth rather than a harbinger of malignant behavior. The authors' findings suggest that gangliogliomas may be included in the diagnostic criteria for neurofibromatosis type 1.

Malignant chiasmal glioma: a rare cause of rapid visual loss

The clinical, neuroradiological, and histological findings of an adult patient suffering from malignant optic glioma is reported. Rapid visual deterioration was misdiagnosed for several months until biopsy confirmed the tumor. The patient died despite radiation therapy nine months after first symptoms. Our presentation will focus on the problems of diagnosing and establishing therapeutic procedures in this rare malignant neoplasm.