| Gliomatosis cerebri | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Infiltrative diffuse astrocytosis |
 | |
| Axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI image demonstrating tumor-related infiltration involving both temporal lobes (Short arrow), and the substantia nigra (Long arrow). | |
| Specialty | Neuro-oncology,Neurosurgery |
Gliomatosis cerebri is a rare growth pattern of somebrain tumors, impacting at least threecerebral lobes, mostly with bilateral involvement of thecerebral hemispheres. It can be seen in some types of diffuseglioma, most notablyglioblastoma. It consists of infiltrative threads that spread deeply into the brain, making them very difficult to remove with surgery or treat with radiation and is associated with poor prognosis.
Previously it was considered to be a separate type of tumor, but this view has been overturned by molecular and genetic diagnostics.
As defined by theWHO, gliomatosis cerebri spans at least three cerebral lobes, usually involves both hemispheres and can also spread deeply into thegray matter or intoinfratentorial structures like thebrainstem,cerebelleum orspinal cord.[1]
Until the 4th revision of theWHO classification of tumours of the central nervous system of 2016, gliomatosis cerebri was considered to be a distinct entity. Due to advances in molecular diganostics, the lack of a specific genetic profile and poor prognostic value, this definition is now considered obsolete.[1]
Gliomatosis cerebri is most often caused by glioblastoma, but can also arise from astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma or other types of diffuse glioma.[2] Other pathologies such asvasculitis,encephalitis orleukoencephalopathy may also cause similar radiological findings.[3]