Gliomatosis cerebri
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| Gliomatosis cerebri Classification and external resources |
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| ICD-O: | 9381/3 |
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| MeSH | D018302 |
Gliomatosis cerebri (infiltrative diffuse astrocytosis) is a rare primary brain tumor. It is commonly characterized by diffuse infiltration of the brain with neoplastic glial cells that affect various areas of the cerebral lobes[1].
While gliomatosis cerebri can occur at any age, it is generally found in the third and fourth decades of life.
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[edit] Presentation
It may affect any part of the brain or even the spinal cord, optic nerve and compact white matter. Clinical manifestations are indefinite, and include headache, seizures, visual disturbances, corticospinal tract deficits, lethargy, and dementia.
[edit] Diagnosis
Before the advent of MRI, diagnosis was generally not established until autopsy. Even with MRI, however, diagnosis is difficult.[2] Typically, gliomatosis cerebri appears as a diffuse, poorly circumscribed, infiltrating non-enhancing lesion that is hyperintense on T2-weighted images and expands the cerebral white matter. It is difficult to distinguish from highly infiltrate anaplastic astrocytoma or GBM.[3]
[edit] Prognosis
The prognosis for gliomatosis cerebri is generally poor, with a median survival time of only 12 months.[4] Surgery is not practical considering the extent of the disease, standard chemotherapy (nitrosourea) has been unsuccessful, and while brain irradiation can stabilize or improve neurologic function in some patients, its impact on survival has yet to be proven.[citation needed]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Gliomatosis Cerebri, MedPix : 923 - Medical Image Database and Atlas
- ^ Bendszus M, Warmuth-Metz M, Klein R, et al (2000). "MR spectroscopy in gliomatosis cerebri". AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 21 (2): 375–80. PMID 10696026.
- ^ Radiology, University of Rochester Medical Center. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
- ^ Gliomatosis Cerebri - My Child Has - Children's Hospital Boston
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