Congenital glioblastoma multiforme with abnormal vascularity presenting as intracranial hemorrhage in prenatal ultrasound.

Background: A rare case of a congenital brain neoplasm with intratumoral massive hemorrhage suggested by prenatal ultrasound examination in a 32-week gestational age male fetus is reported. The child died shortly after birth due to cardiorespiratory insufficiency.

Methods: Autopsy disclosed a large well-delimited tumor with a sponge-like appearance due to high vascularization, which involved nearly the whole left cerebral hemisphere and led to marked hydrocephalus by secondary aqueductal stenosis. Histological and immunohistochemical examination confirmed the diagnosis of a malignant glioma with features of a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) matching well with previous findings in primary pediatric GBMs.

Findings: The present case demonstrates that malignant congenital neoplasms should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fetal intracranial hemorrhage.