Glioblastoma in the setting of tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis is an autosomal dominant condition commonly manifesting with seizures, mental retardation, cortical tubers and hamartomas. Neoplasms may occasionally arise in this setting with the majority of these tumors being subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (World Health Organization [WHO] grade I). Reports of high grade astrocytic neoplasms arising in patients with tuberous sclerosis are rare. We report a left fronto-parietal mass presenting in a 33-year-old woman with altered mental status and slurred speech. The tumor demonstrated areas of enhancement and was associated with mass effect on CT imaging. The tumor was marked by prominent cellularity, easily identifiable mitotic figures, vascular proliferative changes, necrosis and multinucleated giant cells. A Ki-67 labeling index of greater than 30% was noted. The findings were interpreted as being consistent with a glioblastoma (WHO grade IV). The limited literature on similar cases of malignant gliomas arising in the setting of tuberous sclerosis are reviewed. Few reports of similar tumors have been described in the literature. Presentation appears to depend on where the tumor is situated; locations have been variable in previous reports. For those cases in which survival data were included, the prognosis is poor.