PRIMARY INTRINSIC BRAIN-STEM OLIGODENDROGLIOMA IN AN ADULT

Primary intrinsic oligodendrogliomas of the brainstem are exceedingly unusual. The authors report the case of an intraaxial brainstem oligod endroglioma in an adult. In an extensive review of oligodendrogliomas, only six (0.4%) of 1593 cases recorded could be identified as intrins ic brainstem tumors. Five of these cases were found in children. This report documents a 25-year-old woman with a pontomedullary oligodendro glioma. An analysis of the world literature on this tumor type finds t hat posterior fossa oligodendrogliomas present at an earlier age and a ppear to be more aggressive biologically than their supratentorial cou nterparts. The overall prognosis for patients harboring an intrinsic b rainstem oligodendroglioma remains unclear, with significant variabili ty between patients.