Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports (Aug 2019)

An Unusual Presentation of Spinal Giant Cell Glioblastoma in a 21-Year-Old Female

  • Benjamin J. Delgado BS,
  • Leila Moosavi MD,
  • Ericka Rangel BS,
  • William Stull MD,
  • Rahul Dev Polineni MD,
  • Joseph Chen MD,
  • Everardo Cobos MD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/2324709619868255
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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Primary spinal cord giant cell glioblastoma multiforme of the thoracic spinal cord is a rarely-diagnosed primary spinal cord tumor in comparison to neoplasms in intracranial locations. In this article, we highlight a young adult who was diagnosed with intramedullary giant cell glioblastoma, IDH wild-type, World Health Organization grade IV/IV of the thoracic spinal cord. This case report describes the treatment approach with a postsurgical combination of radiation therapy and temozolomide, which resulted in the patient to return to her baseline of health only to later develop neurological symptoms significant for a recurrence of malignancy. In a review of the literature of described cases of primary spinal cord glioblastoma multiforme, prognosis continues to be unfavorable as current treatment options of the aggressive malignancy remain absent of a cure.