Malignant papillary glioneuronal tumor of the pineal gland: Case presentation and literature review of a distinct entity

Acute presentation of papillary glioneuronal tumor due to intra-tumoral hemorrhage in a toddler: an odd presentation of a rare pathology

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE

Papillary glioneuronal tumor is a recently known entity in central nervous system tumors. These benign WHO grade I tumors are mostly seen in young adults. Pediatric PGNT is rare and there is no report of these tumors in toddlers. Headache, nausea/vomiting and seizure are most common clinical symptoms. Acute presentation with focal neurological deficits or loss of consciousness are not amongst the expected presentations. These tumors are typically cystic with enhancing mural nodule. Although case with chronic intermittent microhemorrhages are reported in the literature but overt intra-tumoral hemorrhage is an odd radiological presentation with just one reported case in the literature.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

We present an extremely rare case of PGNT presenting with sudden onset hemiparesis and impaired consciousness due to acute intra-tumoral hemorrhage in a toddler which was surgically treated with favorable outcome.

CONCLUSION

PGNTs can also be seen in very young children even in toddlers. Also, it should be kept in mind that these tumors have potential for overt intra-tumoral hemorrhage and acute presentation with focal neurological deficits mimicking more common pathologies which should be considered to plan optimal patient management.

Papillary Tumor of the Pineal Region: Systematic Review and Analysis of Prognostic Factors

BACKGROUND

Clinical outcomes and biological behavior of papillary tumors of the pineal region (PTPR) are still under investigation. The best therapeutic strategy has not been defined.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a comprehensive patient-level analysis of all PTPR cases and identify their clinical features, treatment options, and prognostic factors.

METHODS

A search of the medical databases for case series and reports on PTPRs from January 2003 to June 2017 was performed. Data addressing PTPR's clinical presentation, imaging, treatment, and histological features were. Variables associated with the primary outcome of 36-mo survival were identified through Cox regression models.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 1164 studies, of which 71 were included (60 case reports and 11 case series), containing 177 patients (mean age 33.0 ± 15.3 yr and 53.2% male). Intracranial hypertension and hydrocephalus prevailed as the clinical picture. Surgery was performed on 82.0% and gross total resection (GTR) was achieved on 71.4%. A total of 56.8% recurred after a median 29 mo (quartiles 10.5-45.5). The 36-mo survival rate was 83.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 76.2-89.2%). Good functional outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Scale 4/5) were observed in 60.0%. The variables of interest were inconsistently reported and the multivariable analysis final sample was 133 patients. After adjustment for age, tumor size (each additional centimeter, hazard ratio [HR] 1.99, 95% CI 1.12-3.53, P = .019) and surgical treatment (HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.05-0.45, P = .001) were associated with 36-mo survival.

CONCLUSION

Tumor size and surgery are associated with improvement in 36-mo survival. We did not observe any significant benefits from GTR or adjuvant treatments.

Surgical Resection and Cellular Proliferation Index Predict Prognosis for Patients with Papillary Glioneuronal Tumor: Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis

BACKGROUND

Although the World Health Organization classifies papillary glioneuronal tumor (PGNT) as a grade I tumor, several malignant cases have been reported. In this study, we examined the clinical and prognostic characteristics of PGNT.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and institutional databases were queried for patient-level reports of PGNT, resulting in identification of 138 cases. Descriptive and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted. The threshold of significance was 0.05.

RESULTS

The mean age at presentation was 26.9 ± 16.3 years, and the incidence was higher in males (1.42:1). Tumors with a high Ki-67 index (≥5) were more likely to exhibit perilesional edema and ring enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging, trending toward significance (P = 0.114 and 0.113, respectively). Compared with tumors with a low Ki-67 index (<5), those with a high Ki-67 index were more likely to be treated with subtotal resection (STR) than with gross total resection (GTR) (Kruskal-Wallis test, P = 0.006) and with radiation therapy (χ2 test, P = 0.010). At 5 years post-treatment, PGNT had a mean progression-free survival (PFS) of 85.9 ± 3.9%. Males had a better 5-year PFS than females (94.0 ± 3.4% vs. 74.8 ± 7.8%; Mantel-Cox test, P = 0.002). Two-year PFS was higher after GTR than after STR (91.9 ± 3.6% vs. 46.7 ± 21.4%; Mantel-Cox test, P < 0.001). A low Ki-67 index was associated with a higher 5-year PFS compared with a high Ki-67 index (94.8 ± 3.6% vs. 55.6 ± 12.9%; Mantel-Cox test, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PGNT is a benign tumor of young adults, but can present atypically as high grade. Male sex, low cellular proliferation, and maximal surgical resection are positive prognostic indicators for PGNT.

Papillary glioneuronal tumors: A radiopathologic correlation

OBJECTIVE

Papillary glioneuronal tumors (PGNT) are a rare and recently recognized tumor entity. The neuroimaging findings were reviewed to determine if any specific findings emerge to assist a preoperative diagnosis of PGNT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seven histologically confirmed cases of PGNT were evaluated from 2004 to 2014. Clinical, neuroimaging and histological findings were reviewed and tabulated.

RESULTS

Headache and seizures were observed in 4 patients (57.1%) each. The majority (n=5, 71.4%) of lesions were periventricular and located in temporal lobe with 57.1% cases being solid cystic (n=4), and 42.9% being purely solid (n=3). Calcification and hemorrhage were noted in 3 cases (42.9%) and 5 cases (71.4%) respectively. The most frequent imaging feature was the presence of septations in the cystic component that enhanced on contrast which correlated with long pseudopapillary projections into the cyst cavity on histopathology. The solid inner component demonstrated heterogeneous enhancement. One case with tumor recurrence demonstrated hemorrhage with superficial siderosis, patchy diffusion restriction, raised choline and focal areas of raised perfusion which correlated on histopathology with increased cellularity and anaplasia.

CONCLUSION

Presence of cystic mass in periventricular location with septations and a solid inner component should raise a suspicion of PGNT on neuroimaging.

Malignant Glioma with Neuronal Marker Expression : A Clinicopathological Study of 18 Cases

Objective

Malignant gliomas with neuronal marker expression (MGwNM) are rare and poorly characterized. Increasingly diverse types of MGwNM have been described and these reported cases underscore the dilemmas in the classification and diagnosis of those tumors. The aim of this study is to provide additional insights into MGwNM and present the clinicopathological features of 18 patients.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of 18 patients diagnosed as MGwNM at our institute between January 2006 and December 2012. Macroscopic total resection was performed in 11 patients (61%). We evaluated the methylation status of O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and expression of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH-1) in all cases, and deletions of 1p and 19q in available cases.

Results

The estimated median overall survival was 21.2 months. The median progression-free survival was 6.3 months. Six patients (33%) had MGMT methylation but IDH1 mutation was found in only one patient (6%). Gene analysis for 1p19q performed in nine patients revealed no deletion in six, 19q deletion only in two, and 1p deletion only in one. The extent of resection was significantly correlated with progression free survival on both univariate analysis and multivariate analysis (p=0.002 and p=0.013, respectively).

Conclusion

In this study, the overall survival of MGwNM was not superior to glioblastoma. The extent of resection has a significant prognostic impact on progression-free survival. Further studies of the prognostic factors related to chemo-radio therapy, similar to studies with glioblastoma, are mandatory to improve survival.

Neuroradiological features of papillary glioneuronal tumor: a study of 8 cases

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to characterize the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomographic (CT) findings in a series of 8 patients with papillary glioneuronal tumor (PGNT).

METHODS

The routine MRI (n = 8), DWI (n = 7), and CT (n = 4) of 8 PGNTs verified by pathologic examination were reviewed. The location, internal architecture, calcification, attenuation value on CT; and signal features and degree of enhancement of the lesions on MRI were evaluated.

RESULTS

Papillary glioneuronal tumor showed relatively characteristic imaging features as well-demarcated masses with cystic degeneration, calcification, and inhomogeneous enhancement. Six of the 8 cases were located in the periventricular area. The solid part of the lesion was isointense (n = 5/8) or hypointense (n = 3/8) to gray matter on T1-weighted imaging. Diffusion-weighted imaging presented heterogeneous hypointensity and isointensity (n = 4/7) or homogeneous hypointensity (n = 3/7) in the solid part of the lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

The location adjacent to lateral ventricle, isointensity on T1-weighted imaging, and low signal on DWI may be of some specificity to PGNT.

Clinical, radiological, and pathological features of 16 papillary glioneuronal tumors

BACKGROUND

Papillary glioneuronal tumors (PGNTs) are a novel distinct intracranial neoplastic entity. In this study, the authors aimed to analyze the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of PGNT.

METHODS

Clinical charts and radiographs of 16 cases of PGNT surgically treated between 2006 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Follow-up evaluations and a literature review were performed.

RESULTS

The study included nine males and seven females with a mean age of 23.8 years. The most common preoperative symptom was headache (68.8 %, 11 of 16 patients). Radiological results showed that the frontal lobe (25.0 %) was the most common portion of the brain involved, and 13 lesions (81.3 %) presented with cystic appearance with or without solid elements. All patients were misdiagnosed as non-PGNT tumors. Complete resection was achieved in 12 patients (75.0 %). Ki67 staining was positive in <1 % of cells present in eight lesions and varied in the other eight lesions, with a range of 1 % to 13 %. The mean follow-up duration was 56.2 months, and no recurrence was observed. Seventy-seven PGNTs (40 males, 51.9 %) have been reported, and 49 patients stained positive for Ki67/MIB-1. Of these cases, 28 (57.1 %) had positive staining rates of ≥1 %. In 51 patients for whom outcome information was available, six (11.8 %) exhibited recurrence, and the recurrence rates for complete resection and incomplete resection were 5.1 % and 33.3 %, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PGNTs displayed a wide spectrum of clinical and radiological phenotypes, and they were more frequently observed in the frontal lobe and in young patients without sex predilection. Fair outcomes could be achieved by complete resection. Although PGNT displayed indolent pathobiology, atypical appearances were observed. More patients and longer follow-up periods are needed to further elucidate the biological features of PGNTs.