Disseminated extraventricular neurocytoma: Case report and review of literatures

Abstract

Extraventricular neurocytoma is a rare tumor, and only a small number of case series of extraventricular neurocytoma have been reported. Because of the rarity of extraventricular neurocytoma, especially disseminated cases, it is difficult to diagnose these cases before surgery. The patient was a 57-year-old man complaining of headaches. Head magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated multiple disseminated lesions. Over two months, the patient was examined for various infectious diseases at the outpatient clinic. However, no abnormalities were detected. He was therefore referred to our neurosurgery department for a histological examination. MRI performed at this time showed the progression of the tumor. The right temporal tumor was partially surgically removed. We diagnosed the tumor as extraventricular neurocytoma. The preoperative clinical and radiological findings suggested a more malignant tumor. The atypical tumor cells and high Ki-67 index were malignant findings. However, neither mitosis nor necrosis was found, and tumor shrinkage was observed after surgery. One year after the surgery, this patient was alive. Brain MRI at this time showed mild tumor regrowth without mass effect. Thus, this may have been an intermediate malignancy.

Keywords

• Extraventricular neurocytoma
• Dissemination
• Mitosis
• Intermediate malignancy