A Diffuse Leptomeningeal Glioneural Tumor Case Producing Hydrocephalus and Polyradiculopathy

The present report describes the case of a male 17-year-old patient who progressively developed a hydrocephalus and polyradiculopathy due to involvement of central nervous system (CNS) by a diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLGNT). The tumor had partial remission in response to the treatment with radiotherapy plus procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy, and the patient had improvement in function and pain levels. The current knowledge about DLGNT, including its clinical manifestations, imaging findings, histological characteristics, and treatment are revised and discussed in the present paper.

Treatment of Recurrent Gliomas with PCV Chemotherapy : A Preliminary Report

Twelve patients with recurrent malignant glioma were treated with combination chemotherapy, consisting of procarbazine(60mg/m2, 8th-21th day), CCNU(110mg/m2, 1st day), and vincristine(1.4mg/m2, 8th and 29th day) every 6 weeks. Most patients had undergone initial resection of primary tumor, postoperative radiotherapy, and another form of chemotherapy. Response or progression was defined as improvement or deterioration in MRI scan. Assessment of response followed evaluation of MRI obtained after the completion of each two cycles of chemotherapy, if possible. Partial(more than 50% reduction of tumor mass) response at 15+ to 47+ weeks after chemotherapy was noted in three(60%) of the five patients with recurrent oligodendrogliomas. But in patients with recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma or gllioblastoma, partial response at 8+ weeks after chemotherapy was noted in one(14%) of the seven patients. It is suggested that PCV chemotherapy is more effective for patients with recurrent oligodendrogliomas than other recurre nt gliomas.