Turkish Neurosurgery
2013 , Vol 23 , Num 4
A Case of Adult Onset Medulloblastoma During Maintenance Chemotherapy for Anaplastic Astrocytoma One Year After Radiotherapy
Hiroshima University, Department of Neurosurgery, Hiroshima-City, Japan
DOI :
10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.5198-11.1
Multiple primitive intracranial tumors with different histological characteristics are uncommon. Although coexistence of a medulloblastoma
with glial tumors has been reported in children, medulloblastoma is rarely found in adults, especially those older than 40 years of age.
We present an extremely rare case of a medulloblastoma developing in a 40-year-old male undergoing maintenance chemotherapy for
anaplastic astrocytoma for 21 months after radiotherapy. Initially, he complained of intractable epilepsy characterized by complex partial
seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a slightly enhanced mass lesion in the left insula region. He underwent subtotal removal
of the tumor and it was histologically diagnosed as anaplastic astrocytoma. After 19 months of treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) and
radiotherapy, he presented with vertigo and headache. A homogeneously enhanced mass had developed in the left cerebellar hemisphere.
He received gross total resection of the second tumor, pathologically diagnosed as medulloblastoma. In conclusion, this is the first case report
of an adult medulloblastoma coexisting with anaplastic astrocytoma.
Keywords :
Adult medulloblastoma, Anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, Coexistence