IMPORTANT: We currently have a number of bugs related to image cropping and are actively trying to resolve them. In the meantime, we have disabled cropping. Apologies for any inconvenience. Stay informed: radiopaedia.org/chat

Gliosarcoma

Case contributed by Henry Knipe
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Headaches, confusion and aphasia.

Patient Data

Age: 50
Gender: Male
ct

There is a rim enhancing fluid density mass lesion present within the left frontal lobe with mass effect, and midline shift to the right of up to 1 cm. Associated with the wall of the mass lesion there is a nodular component. Edema is present within the adjacent left frontal lobe.

A further enhancing mass lesion is present within the left parietal lobe. This is causing effacement of the occipital horn of the left lateral ventricle. This demonstrates rim enhancement with a heterogenous center. There is effacement of the adjacent cortical sulcal and gyral pattern.

MRI Brain

mri

Multifocal areas of abnormality. In the left frontal lobe there is a cystic cavity with linear peripheral enhancement which is thick medially with surrounding edema.

There is an infiltrative mass encasing the occipital horn of the left lateral ventricle, crossing the splenium of the corpus callosum, extending into the left temporal lobe and into the left cerebral peduncle. There is a necrotic enhancing area demonstrating thick peripheral enhancement in the posterior temporal region.

There is mass-effect with 9 mm midline shift, distortion of the brainstem and effacement of the cortical sulci.

MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION: 1&2. Paraffin sections show fragments of a densely hypercellular tumor. This consists of a vesicular arrangement of markedly pleomorphic spindle cells which enclose aggregates of cells which have a more epithelioid morphology. These have pleomorphic vesicular nuclei and a variable amount of pale cytoplasm. Frequent mitotic figures are identified. Vessels are prominent in many areas of the tumor and there is multilayering of atypical cells around vessel lumena. There are also several small foci of necrosis.

DIAGNOSIS: 1&2. Left frontal brain tumor: Gliosarcoma (WHO Grade IV).

Case Discussion

Gliosarcomas are rare, highly malignant primary brain tumors with both glial and mesenchymal elements. 

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.