Glutaric aciduria type II [corrected] and brain tumors: a case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology Vol. 31; no. 11; p. 865
• Main Authors: Yazici, Nalan, Sarialioğlu, Faik, Alkan, Ozlem, Kayaselçuk, Fazilet, Erol, Ilknur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.2009
• Subjects: Cerebellar Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Cerebellar Neoplasms - therapy; Cerebellar Neoplasms - urine; Child, Preschool; Glutamates - urine; Humans; Male; Medulloblastoma - diagnostic imaging; Medulloblastoma - therapy; Medulloblastoma - urine; Multiple Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency - diagnostic imaging; Multiple Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency - therapy; Multiple Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency - urine; Radiography
• ISSN: 1536-3678
• DOI: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e3181b258c6

Heritable diseases associated with childhood tumors are sometimes defined as a probable etiologic factor or a coincidence. First of all, we must know the actual number of patients. Herein a case with medulloblastoma associated with glutaric aciduria type II [corrected] is reported for this purpose. A 5-year-old boy was admitted with nausea, vomiting, and lethargy. In medical history, consanguinity and siblings with mental-motor retardation and epilepsy are remarkable. Growth retardation, macrocephaly, lethargy, tremor, bilateral nistagmus, and papilledema were prominent features in physical examination. Noncontrast computed tomography of the brain showed a hyper dense mass in the cerebellar vermis. Gross total resection was made and the histopathology of the tumor was medulloblastoma. Besides medical history and physical findings, radiologic white matter changes in the subcortical, periventricular regions, bilateral basal ganglia, and caudate nuclei in magnetic resonance images other than tumor led us to investigate the child for glutaric aciduria type II [corrected]. The level of the 2-OH glutaric acid was determined as being 12-fold high in the urine. Chemo-radiotherapy was performed after surgery. Our case was the third patient with medulloblastoma in the literature and is still alive with no evidence of the disease 19 months after the initial diagnosis.