Butterfly glioma

Last revised by Yuranga Weerakkody on 19 Feb 2023

Butterfly gliomas are high-grade astrocytomas, IDH-mutant or glioblastomas, IDH-wildtype that cross the midline via the corpus callosum. Other white matter commissures are also occasionally involved. The term butterfly refers to the symmetric wing-like extensions across the midline. 

Butterfly gliomas most frequently occur in the frontal lobes, crossing via the genu of the corpus callosum, however, posterior butterfly gliomas are also encountered. 

Treatment and prognosis

Like all high-grade gliomas the prognosis is dismal, and usually, no attempt at "curative" resection is made.

Differential diagnosis

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