Primary cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme with an unusually long survival. Case report

Light microscopic and electron microscopic findings of a primary cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme (GM) are presented. An infiltrating tumor of the vermis and the right cerebellar hemisphere had been partially removed from a 39-year-old woman. Postoperative irradiation to the posterior fossa enabled her to work for the next 5 1/2 years. At readmission, progressive pontocerebellar signs were observed. In spite of repeated irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy, she died after 1 month. Autopsy revealed extensive tumorous infiltration of the right cerebellar hemisphere, pons, and medulla. Both the biopsy and autopsy specimens showed typical features of GM. Tumorous propagation resulted in extreme enlargement of the right inferior olive. Electron microscopic analysis disclosed characteristic bundles of glial filaments, cytoplasmic inclusions lying within nuclear folds, and intracytoplasmic granules of uncertain nature. The possible cause of the long survival is discussed and a comparison is made with previously reported cases.