Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Repair of a Critical-sized Calvarial Defect Model Using Adipose-derived Stromal Cells Harvested from Lipoaspirate
Published on: October 31, 2012
Giant pediatric glioblastoma multiforme causing primary calvarial erosion and sutural diastasis presenting with
Guru Dutta Satyarthee1, A K Mahapatra2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosciences Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Insights
This report details a rare pediatric case of supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme with primary calvarial erosion. The 13-year-old patient experienced symptom improvement after surgical resection.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a rare brain tumor in children.
- Primary calvarial erosion by GBM is exceptionally uncommon, with prior reports exclusively in adults.
- This case highlights a unique presentation in a pediatric patient.
Observation:
- A 13-year-old boy presented with a 6-month history of headache, vomiting, and left-sided hemiparesis.
- Initial assessment suggested hydrocephalus; however, MRI revealed a large right frontoparietal GBM with significant mass effect.
- Intraoperative findings included erosion of the parietal bone, unassociated with extradural tumor deposits.
Findings:
- Surgical resection via right fronto-temporal craniotomy was performed.
- Postoperatively, the patient showed improvement in headache and hemiparesis.
- This represents the first reported pediatric case of glioblastoma multiforme with primary calvarial erosion.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of GBM presentation in pediatric populations.
- It underscores the importance of advanced imaging in diagnosing rare pediatric brain tumors.
- Further research into the management and characteristics of pediatric GBM with calvarial erosion is warranted.
Abstract:
Authors report a rare case of supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme in a 13-year-old boy, who had headache, vomiting and left sided hemiparesis for last 6 months. On evaluation by primary physician he was labeled as hydrocephalus in view of enlarged head with papilledema on fundoscopic evaluation and no imaging was carried out. On current admission, magnetic resonance imaging brain revealed a large heterogeneous mass lesion involving right frontoparietal region associated with massive perilesional edema causing significant mass effect. He underwent right fronto-temporal craniotomy and intraoperatively erosion of parietal bone was observed, unassociated with any extradural deposit of tumor. After surgery, he noticed improvement in headache along with hemiparesis. Primary calvarial erosion in glioblastoma is extremely rare, and there is paucity of literature as evident from the few case reports reported previously and all occurred in elderly, so current case is the first pediatric case having primary calvarial erosion. Management of such case and pertinent literature is briefly discussed.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...