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Washington University Experience | NEOPLASMS (GLIAL) | Glioblastoma - Gross Pathology | 16A0 Case 16 History
Case 16 History ---- The patient was a 42 year old female with a clinical history of gliomatosis cerebri. Her presenting symptoms began in early 1989 with severe intermittent headaches, decreased short term memory, personality changes, and new onset seizures. The work-up at that time revealed an astrocytic neoplasm. The patient was treated conservatively but continued to have increasing seizure activity. She was admitted to BH in 5/91 for a decrease in her level of consciousness, difficulty walking, and decline in memory. At that time she was treated with radiation therapy which ended in 7/91. The patient continued to have worsening of her seizure disorder which included both generalized tonic/clonic seizures and absence seizures. She continued to have cognitive decline and developed a mild right hemiparesis which increased in severity over the years. She was re-admitted to BH in 10/94 with lower back pain. An MRI at that time showed a central enhancing lesion involving both frontal lobes encroaching into the corpus callosum and into the roof of the left lateral ventricle. Compared to the earlier study in 12/91, there was interval growth and the development of a cystic component in the lesion. In addition, there was enhancement of the left basal ganglia compatible with tumor extension. The patient's cognitive functions continued to decline and her seizures increased in frequency. By 9/96, the patient became non-verbal, somnolent, and had dysphagia necessitating gastrostomy tube placement. Thereafter, the patient's health declined to comatose state and she developed an upper respiratory tract infection. She died in January 1997
