title: Malignant transformation of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: case report.
abstract: We report a case of a pleomorphic xantoastrocytoma which manifested itself as a cystic isodense lesion in the right fronto-temporal lobe in a 26 year-old woman. It appeared as a soft yellow tumor with cystic cavities on surgery. Five months after this surgery, the patient was submitted to a new operation, which revealed a friable tumor, easily differentiated from the normal parenchyma, with cystic components. The histopathological examination demonstrated pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma with malignant transformation. Histologically, the tumor at first procedure was composed of pleomorphic astrocytes with multinucleated and foamy cells. A rare case of malignant transformation in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is presented, discussed and illustrated in this paper.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. detella@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Oswaldo Ignácio
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: de Tella
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Herculano
authors.forename: Mirto Nelso
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Prandini
authors.forename: João Norberto
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Stavale
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Aguiar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012086:Reoperation