Radiological and histopathological correlations in oligodendroglioma: a comprehensive case report

TL;DR

This case report describes an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with oligodendroglioma, a rare brain tumor, and highlights its radiological and histopathological features.

Contribution

The novelty lies in presenting a rare pediatric case of oligodendroglioma with detailed radiological and histopathological correlation.

Findings

The patient's tumor showed calcification and edema compressing the third ventricle on CECT.

Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of oligodendroglioma.

The prognosis is poor for diffuse white matter spread of this tumor type.

Abstract

Oligodendroglial tumors are rare tumors that constitute part of the neuroepithelial tumors of the central nervous system. A diffuse, low-grade astrocytoma (WHO grade II), oligodendrogliomas are typically encountered in adults, with children under the age of 15 accounting for about 25% of cases. Although they can arise anywhere in the central nervous system, oligodendrogliomas typically occur in the cerebral white matter. Radiotherapy is the main mode of treatment since surgical intervention is limited to the role of biopsy and management of secondary effects, due to the deep brain location of the lesion and the complexity of the involved structures. Here, we are reporting a case of an 11-year-old male, who presented with a complaint of headache and underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) that showed a heterogenous lesion with evidence of calcification and surrounding edema compressing the third ventricle. Oligodendroglioma was diagnosed with histopathological correlation which further confirmed the diagnosis. The patient then underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy as adjuvant therapies. A patient's prognosis is typically bad in rare occurrences of diffuse white matter spread oligodendroglioma, which can have a significant effect on neurological health.

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