Multinodular and vacuolating neuronal tumor in the thalamus: case report and systematic review of literature

Abstract

The authors present the first reported case of MVNT in the thalamus in a 60-year-old man with a 20-year history of epilepsy and recent progressive neurological decline presented for neurosurgical evaluation for a non-enhancing mass predominantly in the right thalamus presumed to be a low-grade glioma. The tumor was subtotally resected using a left contralateral interhemispheric transcallosal approach. Histological and molecular assessment revealed an MVNT with MAPK pathway-activating mutation. The authors also conducted a systematic review of pathology-proven cases of MVNT to provide an up-to-date overview of the literature on the localization, presenting symptoms, and recurrence of this tumor.