Congenital glioblastoma diagnosed by fetal sonography.
Congenital brain tumors are very rare, and 2-9% of them are accounted for by glioblastomas. We encountered a case of congenital glioblastoma detected at the 39th week of gestation by fetal sonography, which revealed a large echogenic mass in the left temporo-parietal area of the fetal brain with significant midline shift and dilatation of the contralateral lateral ventricle. A detailed sonogram obtained 7 h later showed that the mass had increased in size, and this suggested an expanding hematoma. An emergency cesarean section was performed. Postnatal MRI demonstrated an enhancing mass with a large hematoma. Biopsy revealed a malignant brain tumor. Further management was refused and the boy died 6 days after birth. The postmortem pathological diagnosis was glioblastoma. When fetal sonography demonstrates an echogenic mass, a congenital brain tumor should be considered. The mode of delivery should be determined by the nature of the mass and the condition of the fetus.
Lee
D Y
DY
Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Chongno-gu, Korea.
Kim
Y M
YM
Yoo
S J
SJ
Cho
B K
BK
Chi
J G
JG
Kim
I O
IO
Wang
K C
KC
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*