CASE REPORT article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Cancer Imaging and Image-directed Interventions
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1598058
This article is part of the Research TopicCurrent Challenges and Future Perspectives in Neuro-Oncological ImagingView all 7 articles
Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Two Cases of Anaplastic Papillary Glioneuronal Tumor: One Case with Glioblastoma-like Progression
Provisionally accepted
- 1The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Lanzhou, China
- 2Medical imaging research center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
- 3School of Modern Health and Regimen Industry, Anhui Sanlian University, Hefei, China
- 4Department of Ultrasound, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- 5Department of Radiology, Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
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Papillary glioneuronal tumors (PGNTs) are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as Grade I neoplasms, with only sporadic reports of anaplastic variants demonstrating aggressive clinical behavior and distinct histopathological characteristics. This study presents two cases of anaplastic PGNT, including one that ultimately progressed to glioblastoma (WHO Grade IV). The first case involved a 47-year-old female patient without a history of seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an irregular mass containing multiple cysts and a mural nodule in the left parietal lobe. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of anaplastic PGNT. Nineteen months later, follow-up brain MRI demonstrated a recurrent mass at the prior surgical site. During the second resection, histological analysis identified glioblastoma arising from the glial component of the original tumor. The second case concerned a 7-year-old boy presenting with progressive headache. MRI showed a solid-cystic mass in the right frontal lobe accompanied by marked peritumoral edema. Postoperative pathological examination revealed anaplastic PGNT with extensive necrosis. MRI characteristics including prominent peritumoral edema, ring-enhancing cyst walls, restricted diffusion, and elevated lipid/lactate peaks may predict the aggressive nature of anaplastic PGNT. Furthermore, this case series suggests that anaplastic PGNTs harbor malignant potential to transform into more aggressive neoplasms.
Keywords: Papillary glioneuronal tumor, anaplastic, advanced MRI, recurrent, malignant transformation
Received: 07 Apr 2025; Accepted: 16 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, He, Xue, Fang and Du. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Xuesong Du, Department of Radiology, Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
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