Meningioma growth and interferon beta-1b treated multiple sclerosis: coincidence or relationship?
Although the coincidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and central nervous system (CNS) tumors has been reported in over 30 cases in English literature, meningioma growth was associated with interferon-beta (INF-b) treated MS only in two of them. We report the case of a 19-year-old woman with clinically possible, laboratory supported MS, and a concomitant right intraventricular tumor with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics consistent with meningioma (similar signal with grey matter on T1 and T2-weighted images and homogenous, intense enhancement). Two years after initiation of INF-b treatment, follow-up brain MRI revealed enlargement of the intraventricular mass and relative increase in the number of white matter lesions without significant clinical deterioration. She underwent almost total resection of the mass and histology confirmed the diagnosis of papillary meningioma. Based on the immunohistochemistry results, we speculate that INF-b resulted in meningioma growth by enhancing platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors or/and down-regulating transforming growth factor receptors on the tumor itself.
Department of Radiology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotele University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece. adrev@med.auth.gr
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A
Drevelegas
E
E
Xinou
D
D
Karacostas
D
D
Parissis
G
G
Karkavelas
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Milonas
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor