Malignant Transformation of Cerebellar Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma: A Case Report

Oumar Coulibaly¹, Mahamadou Dama¹, Oumar Diallo¹, Quenum Kouassi Jean Marie Maurin Kisito², Li Gu^1,3, Boubacar Sogoba¹, Moussa Denou¹, Sieleche Auxence Christ¹, Youssouf Sogoba⁴, Mamadou Salia Diarra⁵, Alpha Singuépiré¹, Drissa Kanikomo⁴

¹Hopital du Mali, Bamako, Mali.
²Unité de Neurochirurgie, Centre Hospitalier Départemental et Universitaire de Parakou, Parakou, Benin.
³The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China.
⁴Hopital Gabriel Touré, Bamako, Mali.
⁵Hopital Mère-Enfant “Le Luxembourg”, Bamako, Mali.

DOI: 10.4236/wjns.2017.74029                

Abstract

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) generally occurs in children and young adults and is classified as a low-grade astrocytic tumor with a potential favorable prognosis. But these data must be interpreted with much caution, because of some rapid progression or malignant transformation during the postoperative follow-up. We report herein a rare case of a cerebellar PXA manifested as a benign lesion at first time in a 39 year-old woman, but with malignant transformation two years later. In this paper, we discuss the clinical signs, radiological findings and the therapeutic data on the subject according to literature review.

Keywords

Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma, Cerebellar, Malignant

1. Introduction

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA), first described by Kepes et al. in 1979, is a rare neoplasm that accounts for less than 1% of all astrocytic tumors [1] . It had been considered as a low-grade astrocytic tumor with a relatively favorable prognosis compared to other astrocyte-derived tumors, and is classified as grade II in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification [1] [2] . But this situation must be interpreted with much caution because of some rapid progression or some malignant transformation during the follow-up. Some PXAs can recur, become malignant or fateful for a patient [2] [3] [4] [5] . In this paper, we report a well-documented case of a malignant transformation of a cerebellar PXA with poor prognosis and we discuss the clinical course, surgical management and therapeutic findings on this special case.

2. Case Report

This 39 year-old woman, with no medical history, was admitted in our department for headache, vomiting and gait disturbance six months ago. Neurological examination only found a slight cerebellar ataxia with increased deep and superficial reflex. There was no deficit and no papilledema in ophtalmological test. A cranial CT scan showed a cystic midline isodense cerebellar lesion enhanced by contrast injection (Figure 1(a)). She underwent a midline suboccipital craniectomy procedure that allowed to a wholly gross total resection (Figure 1(b)). Histological examination of surgical specimen confirmed a diagnosis of PXA without anaplasia. She was discharged on the tenth postoperative day without any complications. A second postoperative CT scan 8 months later shown no evidence of recurrence (Figure 1(c)).

But, two years after the first surgery, she had been readmitted in emergency with the same clinical symptoms associated with vertigo and intermittent visual

Figure 1. (a) Axial CT scan showing a cystic cerebellar lesion with contrast enhancement; (b) Immediate post operative CT scan showing a gross total resection of the mass; (c) No evidence of recurrence eight months after surgery.

Figure 2. (a) Axial CT scan showing a recurrence of the tumor with solid components and central necrosis and (b) Tetraventricular hydrocephalus; (c) Ventriculoperitoneal shunt prior the second posterior fossa approach.

lost. A CT scan revealed a recurrence of the posterior fossa mass, which became bigger than the first one, majority solid and associated to a tetraventricular hydrocephalus (Figure 2(b)). She had had ventriculoperitoneal shunt following a week later by a new posterior fossa approach. During this last operation, we found a grey-yellow median-density tumor with cystic cavities in posterior cranial fossa. We had some difficulties in differentiating the tumor from the normal cerebellar structures, so subtotal resection was performed. This time, histopathology examination demonstrated “a PXA with rapid progression or malignant transformation, astrocytoma WHO grade III” (Figure 2(b)). So, the patient was discharged with the advice for further radiotherapy. But two months later, she was received in severe cachexia and high nuchal rigidity. No radiotherapy had been done in our case. CT scan showed a recurrence of the mass that is large in size from all the posterior fossa to the supratentorial area. Due to the rapid progression of the tumor and the lack of therapeutic treatment options available to us, we decided to stop treatment after discussions with her family. She died three days later (Figure 2(c)).

3. Discussion

PXA is a low-grade astrocytoma that corresponds to a WHO grade II [6] . The majority of PXA cases occur in a supratentorial location within the temporal followed by parietal, frontal and occipital lobes [7] [8] . However, pure cerebellar PXA are very rare. Only 16 cases of cerebellar PXA had been related in the literature from which three had a malignant transformation (Table 1). The time from diagnosis to malignancy features was approximately 24 months in our case. Cerebellar PXA was more prevalent in females. Two-thirds of cerebellar PXAs occurred in adults and the average age at the time of diagnosis was 33 years. In contrast, supratentorial forms were observed in patients with a younger average age (21 - 26 years) [3] [4] . The main clinical signs in our case were headache, vomiting, and gait disturbance.

Figure 3. (a) Histopathological examination showed a PXA with foci of necrosis, vascular proliferation and high mitotic activity (×10); (b) CT scan showing the second recurrence of the tumor from the posterior fossa to supratentorial area.

Table 1. Cerebellar PXA cases reported in the literature [3] .

These signs are not specified to cerebellar PXA, but common for posterior fossa tumors (Figure 3(a) and Figure 3(b)). The radiologic features of this tumor have been well documented. All solid masses are enhanced with contrast material, and cyst-associated tumors are frequently observed in supratentorial locations [2] including a huge cyst with a mural nodule [9] . A higher incidence of solid enhancing tumor is observed in the posterior fossa (9 of the 14 cerebellar cases). However, imaging studies may reveal a well-circumscribed mass with a cystic component [4] [10] [11] [12] , but a huge cyst with a mural nodule has not been found in cerebellar locations. Neuroradiologic studies are of little value in predicting the exact diagnosis before pathologic examination because there are no radiologic features pathognomonic of PXA [10] [11] [13] .

The primary goal of PXA is gross total resection if possible and of course without neurological damage. But, in some cases, subtotal resection can be an option in case of recurrence or malignant transformation. PXA with malignant transformation had a relatively poor evolution despite the advanced therapeutic tools. All the three patients including ours died within three years of initial diagnosis, despite surgeries, chemotherapy or radiotherapy [3] [5] . However, in cases proven to be fatal, they usually have undergone transition to anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma. Recurrences may show a histological pattern analogous to the original tumor, but increasing anaplasia may also be seen [2] [14] [15] [16] . The frequency of recurrence of PXA has been reported to be 30 %, and that of malignant transformation 10% - 20% [16] [17] . In our case, after the second operation, histopathological examination was consistent with PXA with malignant transformation. This transformation of cerebellar PXA in our case is highly unusual; only three cases had been reported in the literature. This transformation had been done in a period of two years followed by rapid progression and fatal evolution. At present, the role of adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy remains uncertain and controversial. However, adjuvant therapies can be administered to cases where recurrent tumors are shown to have metastasized or have aggressive extensions on MR images or new proliferative pathological markers are seen [18] . Postoperative radiotherapy is reserved for patients with anaplastic and recurrent tumors with malignant changes [19] [20] [21] . Chemotherapy has not been adequately studied [19] . The clinical course of patients with histologically malignant PXA was often more favorable and less precipitous than that of the patients with fibrillary astrocytomas that showed the same features [2] . Analysis of the published data reveals that the 5-year survival rate for the patients harboring ‘‘typical’’ PXA is approximately 80%. None of the patients with ‘‘atypical’’ PXA have been reported to survive for more than 3 years with or without adjuvant therapies. Our patient had no adjuvant therapy after the second operation and the tumor made a rapid progression within all the posterior fossa with supratentorial extension during a very short time. We stopped our investigation and the patient died a few days later.

4. Conclusion

Cerebellar PXA with malignant transformation is rarely observed, with only 03 fatal cases including ours reported in the literature. The prognosis is very poor compared to supratentorial locations despite the use of adjuvant therapeutic tools after surgery. None of the patients suffering from PXA with malignant transformation has been reported to survive more than three years. As such, the initial diagnosis of this fatal progression of PXA must be established correctly.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mrs. Barry Najah, Mr. Traoré Modibo and his team for their contributions.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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