Parietal solid pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: A case report

Abstract

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a rare brain tumor which usually develops on the cerebral sufface in young people and has a good prognosis. A tare case of solid PXA on the parietal lobe, found during examination for headache, is reported. A 33-year-old female was referred to our hospital because of a headache in the right parietal region. At 20 years of age, she received an antiepileptic drug over the course of 1 year because of general convulsions. A low density mass was found in the right parietal surface on CT. On enhanced MRI, a 4.5 × 2 cm tumor with dural enhancement was heterogeneously enhanced. Right frontoparietal craniotomy was performed resulting in the tumor being diagnosed as an extraaxial tumor. The yellowish tumor did not adhere to the dura and protruded from the right parietal lobe. The tumor did not include any cyst. The protruding tumor drifted into the brain surface and was totally removed. Histologically, the tumor cells displayed marked pleomorphism and some giant cells were found. However, neither any necrosis nor mitosis were found. The tumor cells were positive in glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 stain. The labeling index of MIB-1 was low. The histological diagnosis was PXA. The patient was neurologically normal after surgery, and discharged without irradiation.