Bilateral thalamic glioma in an adult: a case report and review of the literature

We report a case of a 36-year-old woman who had a rare bilateral thalamic glioma (BTG). She complained of memory disorder T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlarged bilateral thalami with homogenous isointensity and no contrast enhancement. Histological examination of the biopsy specim...

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Published inNō shinkei geka Vol. 37; no. 3; p. 285
Main Authors Iwami, Ken-ichiro, Arima, Toru, Ooka, Fumiharu, Asai, Takumi, Tambara, Masao, Takaoka, Toru
Format Journal Article
LanguageJapanese
Published Japan 01.03.2009
Subjects
Adult
Astrocytoma - pathology
Brain Neoplasms - pathology
Female
Humans
Thalamus
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Summary:We report a case of a 36-year-old woman who had a rare bilateral thalamic glioma (BTG). She complained of memory disorder T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlarged bilateral thalami with homogenous isointensity and no contrast enhancement. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen identified diffuse astrocytoma (WHO grade II). BTG is a rare variant of thalamic neoplasms, which can be distinguished clinically and radiologically from other gliomas. In most of the reported cases, the presenting symptoms were cognitive impairment varying from personality changes to frank dementia. Death usually occurs within two years after onset, independently of adjuvant therapy such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. On neuroimaging, all of the BTG had a similar appearance, with both thalami being symmetrically enlarged. Our patient has been given radiotherapy and concominant and adjuvant temozolomide in Stupp's regimen. At the time of this writing (5 months after the consultation), there are no neurological symptoms, and no changes on neuroimaging.
ISSN:0301-2603