J Korean Soc Radiol.  2017 Mar;76(3):221-228. 10.3348/jksr.2017.76.3.221.

Rapid Progression of Gliomatosis Cerebri to Secondary Glioblastoma, Factors That Affect the Progression Rate: A Case Report

• Kim HK
• Yu IK
• Kim SM
• Kim JH
• Lee SH
• Lee SY

• KMID: 2371690
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2017.76.3.221

Abstract

Glioblastomas may develop de novo or through progression from low-grade or anaplastic astrocytomas. The term "˜primary glioblastoma' refers to a glioblastoma that lacks a precursor lesion and has a clinical history of less than three months. On the other hand, the term "˜secondary glioblastoma' indicates that the glioblastoma has progressed from a low-grade tumor after a long latency period and often manifests in younger patients. These subtypes of glioblastoma develop via different genetic pathways, and they differ in prognosis and response to therapy. Thus, differential diagnosis of these subtypes and prediction of the factors that affect the progression from low-grade diffuse astrocytoma to secondary glioblastoma would be clinically very important. We present a rare case of secondary glioblastoma, which developed only three months after the follow up imaging evaluations, with a history of low grade glioma, and present the factors that cause rapid progression.

MeSH Terms

Astrocytoma
Diagnosis, Differential
Disease Progression
Follow-Up Studies
Glioblastoma*
Glioma
Hand
Humans
Latency Period (Psychology)
Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial*
Prognosis