Presumed Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Case for Biopsy Prior to Treatment.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal and aggressive primary brain tumor. Several other abnormalities (neoplastic, infectious, or vascular) can mimic symptoms seen with GBM. This article reviews GBM and presents a case study that demonstrates the rationale for biopsy and pathologic diagnosis prior to the initiation of treatment for malignant brain tumors.

Senescence-associated-gene signature identifies genes linked to age, prognosis, and progression of human gliomas.

Background: Senescence-associated genes (SAGs) are responsible for the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, linked in turn to cellular aging, the aging brain, and the pathogenesis of cancer.

Objective: We hypothesized that senescence-associated genes are overexpressed in older patients, in higher grades of glioma, and portend a poor prognosis.

Methods: Forty-seven gliomas were arrayed on a custom version of the Affymetrix HG-U133+2.

Intracranial spread of Merkel cell carcinoma to the cerebellopontine angle.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly malignant, and aggressive dermal neuroendocrine neoplasm that rarely metastasizes to the central nervous system.

Objective: To review the current literature regarding treatment of neurometastatic MCC.

Methods: A case of a 78-year-old male with intracranial extra-axial metastatic MCC involving the left cerebellopontine angle is presented.

Relationship of gliomas to the ventricular walls.

The role of neural stem cells in gliomagenesis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the anatomic relationship of human gliomas to the lining of the ventricular walls, known as the subventricular zone, an area replete with neural stem cells. We performed a retrospective radiographic analysis of 100 consecutive patients with gliomas and sought to determine the relationship of the lesions to the ventricular walls as seen on their MRI scans.