Primary gliosarcoma with long-survival: report of two cases and review of literature

Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2014 Aug 15;7(9):6323-32. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Background: Gliosarcoma (GS) is a rare high-grade malignant tumor with poor prognosis. The survival period of GS ranges from 4 to 18.5 months. Rarely would it be over 40 months. Survival of intraventricular GS is less than 8 months.

Methods: There were 2 cases of primary gliosarcoma in our hospital with long-term survival after resection, with one of pure intraventricular origin. We confirmed that our diagnosis was correct by light microscopy, GFAP immunohistochemistry and histochemistry of reticular fiber staining.

Results: In the first case, a 47-year-old man with intraventricular gliosarcoma survived for 130 months after surgery. In another case, a 63-year-old woman survived for 4 years after resection. Both cases of GS exhibited biphasic glioblastoma and fibrosarcoma with necrosis. According to the review of surgical records, complete tumor resections, including extended resections were carried out in both cases. The two patients received postoperative radiation therapy and chemotherapy without any further recurrence and metastasis.

Conclusions: We reported two cases of GS with long survival. The presented cases demonstrate that, in rare instances, gliosarcoma may show prolonged survival with after surgical excision combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Keywords: Primary gliosarcoma; intraventricular gliosarcoma; long survival.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / surgery
  • Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Cranial Irradiation
  • Craniotomy
  • Decompressive Craniectomy
  • Female
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / analysis
  • Gliosarcoma / chemistry
  • Gliosarcoma / pathology*
  • Gliosarcoma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Necrosis
  • Survivors*
  • Temporal Lobe / chemistry
  • Temporal Lobe / pathology*
  • Temporal Lobe / surgery
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein