Glioblastoma IDH wild-type (multifocal)

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Headache.

Patient Data

Age: 65 years
Gender: Male

A large region of high T2 signal with positive mass effect involves a majority of the left frontal lobe, with expansion also of the caudate nucleus and lentiform nucleus and signal creeping into the corpus callosum. Superiorly within this region is vividly enhancing component, with central areas of non-enhancing suggestive of necrosis. Spectroscopic trace of this lesion demonstrates marked elevation of choline, depressed NAA, and a large lactate peak. Perfusion demonstrates markedly elevated cerebral blood volume (CBV).

In the right frontal pole is a further region of high T2 signal is demonstrated involving the anterior aspect of the superior frontal gyrus, embedded within it are two enhancing nodule. It is difficult to demonstrate convincing bridging high T2 signal across the corpus callosum between the two frontal lobes.

Involving the posterior aspect of the middle temporal gyrus on the left is a further region of high T2 signal with thickening of the cortex, without abnormal enhancement.

The remainder of the brain is unremarkable in appearance.

Conclusion:

The presence of abnormal signal with mass effect involving three lobes, with enhancing masses in the frontal lobes as described suggests gliomatosis cerebri, with high-grade (WHO grade VI - GBM) component within the left frontal lobe and smaller also high-grade component in the right frontal lobe. There is likely unseen bridging white matter disease consistent with multifocal glioblastoma (rather than multicentric glioma). 

Case Discussion

The patient went on to have a craniotomy and debulking. 

Histology

MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION:

All the sections show features of a densely cellular astrocytic tumor. The tumor cells have pleomorphic and hyperchromatic nuclei. Many mitotic figures are identified. There are prominent foci of microvascular proliferation. Areas of palisaded necrosis are present.

The tumor cells extend extensively into the cerebral cortex. There is no oligodendroglial component. The features are those of glioblastoma. The tumor cells are focally p53 positive. There is weak staining in 10% of the tumor cells for MGMT immunostain. IDH-1 is negative.

DIAGNOSIS: Glioblastoma (WHO Grade IV).

Note: Although this is tumor is entirely consistent with IDH wild-type molecular subtype, strictly speaking, to conclusively establish this, IDH would need to be sequenced to ensure that a non-IDH1 R132H mutation was present. In practice, an IDH1 R132H negative tumor in an individual over 55-years-of-age makes the possibility of this being IDH mutant remote (<1%), and sequencing is not felt to be necessary by many institutions, and not recommended by the WHO classification of CNS tumors (2016). 

Multicentric vs multifocal

Multifocal glioblastoma is that where multiple areas of enhancement are connected to each other by abnormal white matter signal, which represents microscopic spread to tumor cells. 

Multicentric glioblastoma on the other hand is where no such connection can be seen. 

 

In this case, although definite connection cannot be seen, the areas of enhancement are along large connecting white matter tracts and thus almost certainly represent multifocal disease rather than the much rarer multicentric disease. 

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.