A case of congenital oligoastrocytoma

Abstract

Congenital brain tumours, which have a poor prognosis, are commonly present at the perinatal period and very rarely encountered during childhood. The present case report describes a neonate who was diagnosed with congenital oligoastrocytoma. Physical examination revealed lethargy, macrocephaly, intercostal retractions, tachypnea, areflexia and pectus excavatum as well as the sign of sunset in both eyes. All the laboratory findings were within the normal range. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a giant mass measuring 9x8x8 cm in the right ventricle. The neonate died on the eighth day of life due to rapid growth of the tumour and acute uncontrollable intracranial haemorrhage. Autopsy demonstrated that the right hemisphere was completely filled with a 17x15 cm cystic mass which contained blood, fibrin and necrotic tissue with a mucoid consistency. This cystic mass was histopathologically diagnosed as anaplastic oligoastrocytoma. The mitotic activity index was determined as 15% for all tumor cells.