2014 Posterior Fossa Ganglioglioma: An Unusual Neoplasm in a Rare Location

Case Report

Austin Neurosurg Open Access. 2014;1(2): 1010.

2014 Posterior Fossa Ganglioglioma: An Unusual Neoplasm in a Rare Location

Rodrigo Becco de Souza1, Guilherme Brasileiro de Aguiar1, Jo&aTilde;o Luiz Vitorino Araújo1, Denilson Mayrink2, Américo Rubens Leite dos Santos1 and José Carlos Esteves Veiga1*

1Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine of the Holy House of Mercy, Brazil

2Pathology Service, Faculty of Medicine of the Holy House of Mercy, Brazil

*Corresponding author: Guilherme Brasileiro de Aguiar, Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Santa Casa Medical School, S&aTilde;o Paulo, Rua Cesário Motta Jr., 112 - Vila Buarque, 01221-900. S&aTilde;o Paulo - SP, Brazil

Received: March 15, 2014; Accepted: May 25, 2014; Published: May 26, 2014

Abstract

Introduction : Ganglioglioma is a primary neoplasm of the central nervous system that typically affects young individuals, accounting for 0.4 to 9% of all brain tumors. Gangliogliomas are rarely found in the infratentorial compartment. In this article, we report on this case and make a brief review of the literature on the subject.

Case Report : We present a case of a 36 year–old female patient with an 18–month history of headache and dizziness. Imaging studies showed a cerebellar lesion, with compression of the fourth ventricle. The patient underwent surgical excision of the lesion, of which histopathological analysis disclosed a ganglioglioma. The patient presented good evolution and was discharged with no new deficits.

Conclusion : The ganglioglioma represents an uncommon neoplasia. Its occurrence in the posterior fossa is even more striking. The best treatment consists of total excision of the lesion.

Keywords : Brain neoplasms; Infratentorial neoplasms; Ganglioglioma; Posterior cranial fossa

Introduction

The ganglioglioma is an infrequent primary neoplasm of the central nervous system (CNS) which typically affects young adults [1]. It most frequently affects the temporal lobe [2,3] and its occurrence in the posterior fossa represents a rare event [4].

We report on a case of a patient with a ganglioglioma in the posterior fossa who underwent surgical treatment at our facility and conducted a brief review of the literature on the subject.

Case Report

A 36–years–old female patient was admitted to the Neurosurgery Service due to an insidious picture of headache and dizziness that had started 18 months before, occasionally associated with nausea and vomiting. At physical examination, the patient was in good general status, conscious, oriented, with no neurological deficits or papilledema.

Upon further investigation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed a solid⁄cystic lesion hypointense on T1–Weighted Image, hyperintense on T2–Weighted Image, with homogeneous gadolinium enhancement (Figure 1).

Citation: de Souza RB, de Aguiar GB, Araújo JLV, Mayrink D, dos Santos ARL et al. 2014 Posterior Fossa Ganglioglioma: An Unusual Neoplasm in a Rare Location. Austin Neurosurg Open Access. 2014;1(2): 1010.