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Papillary meningioma: a rare but distinct variant of malignant meningioma
Singh Avninder1, Sarvjot Vermani, Sharma Shruti
1Institute of Pathology - ICMR, New Delhi, India. dravninder@yahoo.co.in
Background:
Papillary meningiomas are rare meningeal tumors and are associated with aggressive clinical behavior as compared with other meningiomas. Because of their rare occurrence, they may pose a diagnostic dilemma to the unwary pathologist. We report a case of papillary meningioma in a 16-year-old boy.
Case Presentation:
A 16-year-old boy presented with complaints of headache, progressively diminishing vision and more recently generalized seizures. MRI revealed a large bifrontal meningioma which showed presence of a predominantly papillary pattern with areas of focal necrosis, frequent mitoses and bone invasion. He underwent radical excision of the tumor and is free from recurrence or metastasis at 15 months follow-up.
Conclusion:
Papillary meningiomas are rare but well recognized variants of meningioma. They need to be differentiated from other intracranial tumors with a papillary pattern. They are malignant, frequently show bone and parenchymatous invasion and have the potential for extracranial metastasis. Their timely recognition could prevent local and distant metastasis and the mortality or morbidity associated with it.
Insights
Papillary meningiomas, a rare and aggressive brain tumor variant, present diagnostic challenges. Early recognition is crucial to prevent metastasis and improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Pathology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Papillary meningiomas are rare meningeal tumors.
- They exhibit aggressive clinical behavior compared to typical meningiomas.
- Their rarity can lead to diagnostic challenges for pathologists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of papillary meningioma in a pediatric patient.
- To highlight the diagnostic and clinical features of this rare tumor type.
Main Methods:
- Case presentation of a 16-year-old boy with a bifrontal meningioma.
- Diagnostic imaging (MRI) revealed a predominantly papillary pattern with aggressive features.
- Surgical management involved radical tumor excision.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with headache, vision loss, and seizures.
- MRI confirmed a large bifrontal meningioma with necrosis, high mitotic activity, and bone invasion.
- The patient remained disease-free at 15 months post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Papillary meningiomas are recognized, malignant variants requiring differentiation from other tumors.
- These tumors frequently invade bone and brain tissue and can metastasize.
- Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent metastasis and reduce morbidity/mortality.
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