A symptomatic large subependymoma with neuroradiological features mimicking a high-grade glioma: A case report

Neurocirugia (Astur : Engl Ed). 2019 Jul-Aug;30(4):193-197. doi: 10.1016/j.neucir.2018.06.001. Epub 2018 Jul 27.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

A subependymoma is a benign primary brain tumor classified as a World Health Organization grade I tumor; it is asymptomatic in most cases. We present the case of a 66-year-old Japanese man with a complaint of recurrent vomiting that led to the discovery of a large mass with hemorrhage, peritumoral edema, and a midline shift in the posterior horn of the right lateral ventricle. The patient was pathologically diagnosed with subependymoma after undergoing total tumor resection; a year after the surgery, he was free from tumor recurrence. Although symptomatic subependymomas are rare, they tend to show hemorrhage with peritumoral edema on neuroradiological tests and tend to be confused with high-grade brain tumors. In the present case, we highlight the importance of the appropriate diagnosis for subependymomas showing neuroradiological features that mimic high-grade gliomas. This diagnosis will help in providing suitable treatment for subependymomas.

Keywords: Cerebro; Cerebrum; Lateral ventricle; Neuroradiology; Neurorradiología; Sintomático; Subependimoma; Subependymoma; Symptomatic; Ventrículo lateral.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Glioma / diagnostic imaging
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Glioma / surgery
  • Glioma, Subependymal / complications
  • Glioma, Subependymal / diagnostic imaging
  • Glioma, Subependymal / pathology*
  • Glioma, Subependymal / surgery
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vomiting / etiology