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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
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A 3D Spheroid Model for Glioblastoma
Published on: April 9, 2020
Epithelioid glioblastoma: a case report
Jiro Akimoto1, Hiroaki Namatame, Jo Haraoka
1Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan. akimoto-nsu@umin.ac.jp
Brain Tumor Pathology
|December 21, 2007
Summary
This study reports a rare epithelioid glioblastoma variant in a patient with a history of breast cancer. The tumor showed distinct pilocytic astrocytoma and epithelioid areas with high proliferation in the latter.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Pathology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Brain tumors can present with diverse histological patterns, posing diagnostic challenges.
- The epithelioid pattern is a rare variant of glioblastoma, often with unknown clinical significance.
- Distinguishing between primary brain tumors and metastatic disease is crucial in patients with a cancer history.
Observation:
- A 43-year-old woman presented with headache and nausea 1 year post-breast cancer surgery.
- Brain imaging revealed a well-circumscribed thalamic tumor.
- Histopathology showed areas resembling pilocytic astrocytoma alongside an epithelioid pattern with nuclear atypia and high MIB-1 index (82.5%).
Findings:
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin positivity in the pilocytic-like area.
- The epithelioid area was negative for GFAP, vimentin, and breast cancer markers, suggesting a primitive phenotype.
- The tumor exhibited microvascular proliferation but lacked significant mitosis or necrosis in the pilocytic-like areas.
Implications:
- The epithelioid glioblastoma pattern may represent a primitive tumor cell phenotype requiring further investigation.
- Accurate histological subtyping is essential for understanding tumor behavior and guiding treatment strategies.
- This case highlights the importance of comprehensive histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis in complex neurological cases.
