Clinical, radiological and histological findings in desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma.

The clinical course and radiological and histological findings in a 30-month-old boy suffering from desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma are reported. The child's development was normal until a series of complex partial seizures occurred at the age of 7 months. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic mass with intensive ring-shaped contrast enhancement in the right temporal fossa without shift of intracranial structures. Histologically, the firm, grayish tumor showed an enormous amount of connective tissue, cystic areas, and some mitoses. Glial and neuronal cell lines were identified by immunocytochemical methods. Eighteen months after surgery the boy had developed well without any neurological dysfunction; no radiation or chemotherapy was given. For the first time a synopsis of radiological findings in this rare brain tumor is correlated with the results of multiple histological and immunocytochemical studies. Despite some malignant characteristics, the prognosis of this dysontogenetic brain tumor is good.