Papillary and rhabdoid meningiomas are pathologically World Health Organization (WHO) grade III. Any correlation between clinical prognosis and pathologic component is not clear. We analyzed the prognoses of patients with meningiomas with a rhabdoid or papillary component compared to those of patients with anaplastic meningiomas. From 1994 to June 2013, 14 anaplastic meningiomas, 6 meningiomas with a rhabdoid component, and 5 meningiomas with papillary component were pathologically diagnosed. We analyzed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, extent of removal, adjuvant treatment, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and pathologic features of 14 anaplastic meningiomas (group A), 5 meningiomas with a predominant (≥50%) papillary or rhabdoid component (group B1), and 6 meningiomas without a predominant (<50%) rhabdoid or papillary component (group B2). Homogeneous enhancement on MRI was associated with improved PFS compared to heterogeneous enhancement (p=0.025). Depending on pathology, the mean PFS was 134.9±31.6 months for group A, 46.6±13.4 months for group B1, and 118.7±19.2 months for group B2. The mean OS was 138.5±24.6 months for group A and 59.7±16.8 months for group B1. All recurrent tumors were of the previously diagnosed pathology, except for one tumor from group B1, which recurred as an atypical meningioma without a papillary component. Group B1 tumors showed a more aggressive behavior than group B2 tumors. In group B2 cases, the pathologic findings of non-rhabdoid/papillary portion could be considered for further adjuvant treatment.
Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma* ; Pathology ; Prognosis* ; World Health Organization

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a rare vascular benign lesion that rarely involves the central nervous system with or without skull invasion. We report a rare case of IPEH on the skull bone, which displayed destructive radiologic development associated with hemorrhage. A 14-year-old male presented with an incidentally detected a small enhancing, left frontal osteolytic lesion. Previously, he underwent operation and received adjuvant chemoradiation therapy for cerebellar medulloblastoma. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left frontal bone lesion, which expanded to an approximately 2 cm-sized well-circumscribed osteolytic lesion associated with hemorrhage for 20 months. Frontal craniectomy and cranioplasty were performed. Destructive change was detected on the inner table and diploic space of the skull. The mass had a cystic feature with hemorrhagic content without dural attachment. Pathologic examination showed the capsule consisted of parallel collagen lamellae representing a vascular wall, vascular lumen, which was pathognomonic for IPEH. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the capsule was positive for CD34 and factor VIII, which favor the final diagnosis of IPEH. This was the first case of intracalvarial IPEH.
Adolescent ; Central Nervous System ; Collagen ; Factor VIII ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Bone ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medulloblastoma ; Skull

Aspergillosis in the central nervous system (CNS) is a very rare disease in immune-competent patients. There was a case of a healthy man without a history of immune-compromised disease who had invasive aspergillosis with unusual radiologic findings. A 48-year-old healthy man with diabetes mellitus, presented with complaints of blurred vision that persisted for one month. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple nodular enhancing lesions on the right cerebral hemisphere. The diffusion image appeared in a high-signal intensity in these areas. Cerebrospinal fluid examination did not show any infection signs. An open biopsy was done and intraoperative findings showed grayish inflammatory and necrotic tissue without a definitive mass lesion. The pathologic result was a brain abscess caused by fungal infection, morphologically aspergillus. Antifungal agents (Amphotericin B, Ambisome and Voriconazole) were used for treatment for 3 months. The visual symptoms improved. There was no recurrence or abscess pocket, but the remaining focal enhanced lesions were visible in the right temporal and occipital area at a one year follow-up MRI. This immune-competent patient showed multiple enhancing CNS aspergillosis in the cerebral hemisphere, which had a good outcome with antifungal agents.
Abscess ; Amphotericin B ; Antifungal Agents ; Aspergillosis ; Aspergillus ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Brain Abscess ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebrum ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diffusion ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Vision, Ocular

We report a rare case of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) associated with tumoral bleeding in a pediatric patient without tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). A 10-year-old girl presented with a 2-week history of an increasingly aggravating headache. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an approximately 3.6-cm, well-defined, heterogeneously enhancing mass with multistage hemorrhages on the right-sided foramen of Monro. The tumor was completely resected using a transcallosal approach. Intraoperatively, the mass presented as a gray-colored firm tumor associated with acute and subacute hemorrhages. The origin of the mass was identified as the ventricular septum adjacent to the foramen of Monro. A pathological analysis revealed pleomorphic multinucleated eosinophilic tumor cells with abundant cytoplasm. These cells showed positive staining for the glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100 protein. A diagnosis of SEGA was established. The patient recovered without any neurological symptoms. There was no evidence of TSC. The radiological follow-up showed no recurrence for 2 years. This was a case of SEGA with intratumoral hemorrhage, for which a favorable outcome was achieved, without any neurological deficit after tumoral resection.
Astrocytoma* ; Brain ; Cerebral Ventricles ; Child ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Headache ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Recurrence ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Ventricular Septum

In this study, we reviewed the clinical characteristics of five cases of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) at our hospital between May 1997 and July 2012. The median age was 18 years old (range, 8 to 26). The clinical symptoms were presented as seizure in two patients and headache in three patients. All the tumors were located near the foramen of Monro. The median size of the tumors was 2.5 cm (range, 1.9-4.0). Two patients showed the solitary lesion, and three had subependymal nodules and cortical tubers. The median follow-up duration was 7.4 years (range, 2.0-14.3). Three patients were associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Four patients showed the SEGA at the first presentation and one patient experienced the 1.9 cm-sized growing mass during 7.7 years follow-up after the diagnosis of the TSC. The mass was totally removed in four patients and subtotally in one. Postoperatively, one patient took the medication for the seizure, which was controllable. The subtotally removed mass showed the recurrence postoperative 4.1 years later, and the recurred mass was stable for 4.5 years after the recurrence. The clinical follow-up study of the SEGA showed an indolent behavior before and after the surgery.
Astrocytoma* ; Cerebral Ventricles ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Neurosurgery ; Recurrence ; Seizures ; Tuberous Sclerosis

We report here two cases of primary intraosseous meningioma with aggressive behavior. A 68-year-old man presented with a one year history of a soft, enlarging mass in the right parietal region. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) revealed a 6 cm sized, heterogeneously-enhancing, bony expansile mass in the right parietal bone, and computed tomograph (CT) showed a bony, destructive lesion. The tumor, including the surrounding normal bone, was totally resected. Dural invasion was not apparent. Diagnosis was atypical meningioma, which extensively metastasized within the skull one year later. A 74-year-old woman presented with a 5-month history of a soft mass on the left frontal area. MRI revealed a 4 cm sized, multilobulated, strongly-enhancing lesion on the left frontal bone, and CT showed a destructive lesion. The mass was adhered tightly to the scalp and dura mater. The lesion was totally removed. Biopsy showed a papillary meningioma. The patient refused adjuvant radiation therapy and later underwent two reoperations for recurred lesions, at 19 and at 45 months postoperative. The patient experienced back pain 5 years later, and MRI showed an osteolytic lesion on the 11th thoracic vertebra. After her operation, a metastatic papillary meningioma was diagnosed. These osteolytic intraosseous meningiomas had atypical/malignant pathologies, which metastasized to whole skull and the spine.
Aged ; Back Pain ; Biopsy ; Dura Mater ; Female ; Frontal Bone ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Meningioma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteolysis ; Parietal Bone ; Scalp ; Skull ; Spine

We report a case of a paradoxical response of a tuberculoma in the brain mimicking a brain tumor. A 76-year-old woman presented with a 2 week history of headache, dysarthia, and orthopnea. Brain magnetic resonance images (MRI) revealed two rim-enhancing lesions on the pons and occipital lobe, and chest computed tomography showed randomly distributed miliary nodules. The tentative diagnosis was tuberculosis (TB) of the brain and lung. She complained of right hemiparesis and worsening general weakness after taking the anti-TB medication. On the monthly follow-up images, the enhanced lesions were enlarged with increased perfusion and choline/creatinine ratio, suggesting a high grade glioma. A surgical resection was completed to diagnose the occipital lesion, and the tuberculoma was pathologically confirmed by a positive TB-polymerase chain reaction. The anti-TB medication was continued for 13 months. A follow-up MRI showed decreased size of the brain lesions associated with perilesional edema, and the clinical symptoms had improved. Brain tuberculoma could be aggravated mimicking brain malignancy during administration of anti-TB medication. This paradoxical response can be effectively managed by continuing the anti-TB drugs.
Aged ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Glioma ; Headache ; Humans ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Occipital Lobe ; Paresis ; Perfusion ; Pons ; Thorax ; Tuberculoma* ; Tuberculosis

A 53-year old man who had a left hemiparesis from head injury of traffic accident 20 years ago visited an emergency room with suddenly developed semi-comatose mental status. Brain CT showed 8.6-cm sized solid and cystic mass on right temporal lobe that was associated with hemorrhage. Solid lesion showed a strong enhancement after an administration of contrast media. Because of severe mass effect, emergency operation was performed. The mass was an intraparenchymal lesion with yellowish cystic fluid and the firm reddish-brown solid lesion was hemorrhagic. The lesion was totally resected. Pathologically, anaplastic solitary fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytoma was diagnosed with 70/10 high power fields. Postoperative radiotherapy of 50 Gy was done. Postoperative 2 months later, the patient was recovered to alert mental state. We report this unusual case of non-dural based intraparenchymal solitary fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytoma with high mitotic index and acute massive hemorrhage. Rapid tumor growth of hypervascular tumor might have a chance of bleeding.
Accidents, Traffic ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Contrast Media ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hemangiopericytoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mitotic Index ; Paresis ; Radiotherapy ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; Temporal Lobe

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors and outcomes in patients with ependymoma to management plans. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2013, 33 patients with 25 ependymomas (WHO grade II) and eight anaplastic ependymomas (WHO grade III) were pathologically diagnosed. Six were pediatric patients (mean age, 6.15 years; range, 1.3–11 years), while 27 were adults (mean age, 47.5 years; range, 19–70 years). Of those, there were 12 adult patients with totally resected ependymomas without anaplastic pathology and adjuvant treatment. Prognostic factors were assessed in ependymoma patients. Prognostic factors were studied using Kaplan-Meier estimates in subgroups. RESULTS: For six pediatric patients, the progression-free survival (PFS) was 43.7±13.5 months, and the overall survival (OS) was 58.1±13.7 months. For 27 adult patients, the PFS was 125.6±14.3 months, and the OS was 151.2±12.5 months. Age demonstrated a statistically significant effect on PFS (p=0.03) and OS (p=0.03). In adult ependymomas, the extent of tumor removal significantly affected PFS (p=0.03) and trended towards an effect on OS (p=0.06). Out of 12 patients with totally resected ependymomas without anaplastic pathology and adjuvant treatment, one patient showed tumor recurrence during follow-up (mean, 93.5 months; range, 27.9–162.7 months). CONCLUSION: Adult patients with ependymomas were found to have better survival rates compared to pediatric patients. We suggest that totally resected adult ependymomas without anaplastic pathology could be observed without any adjuvant treatment, regardless of the tumor location.
Adult ; Disease-Free Survival ; Ependymoma* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Survival Rate

Background: The cytokine cascade in the immunopathogenesis of malaria infection had been widely studied. However, their specific association with survival and severe infection remained obscure.Methods: Thestudy investigated the cytokine profiles and histopathological features of malaria in the severe infection and survival models by using male ICR mice and male Sprague Dawley rats respectively.Results: The severe model, the infected ICR mice, exhibited a high parasitemia with 100% mortality after peak parasitemia at day 5 post-infection. The survival model, the infected Sprague Dawley rats, showed mild parasitemia with full recovery by day 14 of infection. Both severe and survival models showed similar histopathological severity during peak parasitemia. The severe model produced highly elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1α, and low levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-4; while the survival model showed low levels of TNF-α and IL-1α with high levels of IL-4.Conclusion: There were differences in the pathogenesis of the severe and survival models of malaria infection. These could be a basis for immunotherapy of malaria in the future