Giant cell glioblastoma: a work-up of 2 cases with long survival

Two patients, in whom visual disturbance (Case 1) and sudden hemiparalysis due to a hemorrhagic lesion (Case 2) had led to craniotomy and histological diagnosis of giant cell glioblastoma, each had an unexpectedly long survival period of 7 and 9 years, respectively. Radiologically, the tumours were well demarcated, but without any distinguishing features, by comparison with glioblastomas in general. The tumours, to a great extent, consisted of cells with large, bizarre multiple nuclei. The highly pleomorphic cells displayed strong cytoplasmic GFAP immunopositivity, which suggested an astroglial origin. Thus, these tumours were considered a variant of glioblastoma ("giant cell glioblastoma") with a more favourable prognosis than experienced by most patients with glioblastoma.