Glioma Simultaneously Present with Adjacent Meningioma: Case Report and Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Neuro-oncology
• Neurosurgery
• Neuropathology

Background:

• Meningiomas are tumors arising from the meninges, typically benign.
• Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas are malignant glial tumors.
• Tumors occurring at adjacent sites are rare, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Observation:

• A 51-year-old male presented with a generalized tonic-clonic seizure.
• MRI revealed a dural-based contrast-enhancing lesion in the right temporal lobe (meningioma) and an adjacent heterogeneously contrast-enhancing intra-axial lesion in the right insula (anaplastic oligodendroglioma).
• Histopathology confirmed the coexistence of meningioma and anaplastic oligodendroglioma at adjacent sites.

Findings:

• This case represents the second documented instance of a meningioma directly adjacent to an anaplastic oligodendroglioma.
• The co-location of these distinct tumor types highlights potential shared etiological factors or unique microenvironmental interactions.
• Diagnostic imaging accurately identified both lesion types and their proximity.

Implications:

• This rare co-occurrence necessitates careful consideration of differential diagnoses in patients presenting with complex brain lesions.
• Further research into the pathogenesis of adjacent gliomas and meningiomas may reveal novel insights into tumor development.
• Understanding these rare tumor associations can inform surgical planning and treatment strategies for complex intracranial neoplasms.