Multinodular Vacuolating Neuronal Tumors: Symptomatic Presentation Versus Incidental Finding: Case Series and Literature Review

TL;DR

This paper presents two cases of multinodular vacuolating neuronal tumors (MVNTs) to highlight their varied clinical presentations and the importance of MRI in diagnosis and management.

Contribution

The study contributes two distinct MVNT cases, emphasizing their symptomatic versus incidental presentations and the role of MRI in diagnosis.

Findings

MVNTs can present as either symptomatic or asymptomatic brain lesions.

MRI is crucial for diagnosing MVNTs, showing hyperintense signals on T2/FLAIR sequences.

Asymptomatic MVNTs often require conservative management and regular monitoring.

Abstract

Background and Clinical Significance: Multinodular Vacuolating Neuronal Tumors (MVNTs) are mixed glial–neuronal brain lesions classified as World Health Organization (WHO) CNS grade 1 tumors, often associated with long-term epilepsy. First described by Huse et al. in 2013 and included in the WHO CNS classification in 2016, MVNTs present a range of clinical manifestations, from symptomatic to asymptomatic. They typically affect young to middle-aged adults and exhibit diverse presentations. Radiologically, MVNTs are usually supratentorial, frequently located in the temporal lobe but also observed in the frontal and parietal lobes. MRI is essential for diagnosis, revealing multiple coalescing subcortical or cortical nodules with hyperintense signals on T2-weighted/FLAIR sequences, often without peripheral edema or mass effects. Case Presentation: This paper presents two cases: one symptomatic MVNT with significant clinical manifestations, and the other documenting an incidental finding of MVNT in an asymptomatic patient. One case shows typical temporal lobe localization, while the other highlights a rare frontal lobe localization, with clear radiological findings on T2/FLAIR sequences. Conclusions: These cases illustrate the varied clinical presentations of MVNTs and emphasize MRI’s critical role in diagnosis and management. Asymptomatic cases often require conservative management, stressing the avoidance of unnecessary invasive procedures and the importance of regular monitoring.

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