Epithelioid glioblastoma presenting as multicentric glioma: A case report and review of the literature

Background: Epithelioid glioblastoma is a rare aggressive variant of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which was formally recognized by the World Health Organization classification of the central nervous system in 2016. Clinically, epithelioid GBMs are characterized by aggressive features, such as metastases and cerebrospinal fluid dissemination, and an extremely poor prognosis. A rare case of epithelioid GBM that was discovered as a multicentric glioma with different histopathology is reported.

Case description: A 78-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with mild motor weakness of the right leg. Neuroimaging showed small masses in the left frontal and parietal lobes on magnetic resonance imaging. The abnormal lesion had been increasing rapidly for 3 weeks, and a new lesion appeared in the frontal lobe. 11C-methionine positron emission tomography (PET) showed abnormal uptake corresponding to the lesion. To reach a definitive diagnosis, surgical excision of the right frontal mass lesion was performed. Histological findings showed diffuse astrocytoma. Only radiotherapy was planned, but the left frontal and parietal tumors progressed further within a short period. Therefore, it was thought that these tumors were GBM, and a biopsy of the left parietal tumor was performed. The histological diagnosis was epithelioid GBM. Immunohistochemistry showed that most tumor cells were negatively stained for p53 and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1. BRAF V600E mutations were not identified, but TERT promoter mutations were identified. Immediately after surgery, the patient was given chemotherapy using temozolomide, extended local radiotherapy and then bevacizumab. After 6 months, he showed no signs of recurrence.

Conclusion: Epithelioid GBM is one of the rarest morphologic subtypes of GBM and has a strongly infiltrative and aggressive nature. Therefore, careful identification of preoperative imaging studies and detailed evaluation of genetic studies are necessary to select the appropriate treatment for epithelioid GBM.