title: High-Grade Glioma of the Ventrolateral Medulla in an Adult: Case Presentation and Discussion of Surgical Considerations.
abstract: Background. High-grade gliomas of the brainstem are rare in adults and are particularly rare in the anterolateral medulla. We describe an illustrative case and discuss the diagnostic and treatment issues associated with a tumor in this location, including differential diagnosis, anatomical considerations for options for surgical management, multimodality treatment, and prognosis. Case Description. A 69-year-old woman presented with a 3-week history of progressive right lower extremity weakness. She underwent an open biopsy via a far lateral approach with partial condylectomy, which revealed a glioblastoma. Concurrent temozolomide and radiation were completed; however, she elected to stop her chemotherapy after 5.5 weeks of treatment. She succumbed to her disease 11 months after diagnosis. Conclusions. Biopsy can be performed relatively safely to provide definitive diagnosis to guide treatment, but long-term prognosis is poor.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spurgeon
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Viet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konakondla
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology Oncology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Tamera
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: N Scott
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Litofsky