Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma in an Adult without Tuberous Sclerosis: Systematic Review and Illustrative Case Example

TL;DR

A rare brain tumor called SEGA was found in an adult without a genetic condition called TSC, and the paper reviews similar cases and treatment outcomes.

Contribution

The paper presents the tenth documented case of sporadic SEGA in adults without TSC and provides a systematic review of such cases.

Findings

A 59-year-old woman with sporadic SEGA had successful microsurgical resection and remained disease-free after one year.

Systematic review identified nine adult cases of SEGA without TSC, with symptom-free survival rates of at least 80%.

Headache, papilledema, and visual disturbances were the most common symptoms in sporadic adult SEGA cases.

Abstract

Background
 Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) is a rare neoplasm arising from subependymal tissue. Predominantly associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), SEGA may present with a range of diverse symptoms, most commonly seizures or neurocutaneous features of TSC. We present a novel case of sporadic SEGA in a 59-year-old woman who presented with acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH).

Methods
 Systematic literature review and illustrative case example.

Results
 A 59-year-old woman presented with a headache decreased level of consciousness, and acute IPH involving the anterior septum pellucidum and right medial caudate head. MRI was concerning for an underlying neoplasm, which grew slowly on follow-up imaging, prompting microsurgical resection. A gross total resection was achieved, and postoperative pathology confirmed SEGA (WHO grade I) without
TSC1/2
mutation. She remained disease-free and neurologically intact at 1-year follow-up. A systematic review identified seven publications that revealed pathologically confirmed SEGA in nine adult patients without TSC. Headache, papilledema, and visual disturbances were the most common presenting symptoms. Treatment protocols included microsurgical resection versus biopsy followed by radiographic surveillance, and the overall rate of symptom-free survival was at least 80% as of the last follow-up.

Conclusion
 We report the tenth case of sporadic SEGA in an adult patient without TSC, as well as an associated systematic review of this rare neoplastic entity. Further study is required to identify risk factors for the development of sporadic SEGA, as well as potential avenues for the management of this disease that may depart from the standard protocol in pediatric TSC patients.

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