Glioblastoma with granular cell astrocytoma features: a case report and literature review

We present the case of a 69-year old patient with a contrast enhancing, partially cystic lesion of the right temporal lobe, involving the ventricle and extending into the occipital lobe. The resected tumor showed histological features of a glioblastoma with granular cell astrocytoma features, lacking amplification of the EGFR gene region and IDH1R132H mutation. Literature review of 59 cases showed a 12-month overall survival of 11.7% for high-grade and 40% for low-grade granular cell astrocytomas. In 35% more than one cerebral lobe was affected. These extended mass effects may explain the worse prognosis despite the relatively bland histology of the granular cell component.