Congenital glioblastoma diagnosed by fetal sonography

Congenital brain tumors are very rare, and 2-9% of them are accounted for b y glioblastomas. We encountered a case of congenital glioblastoma detected at the 39th week of gestation by fetal sonography, which revealed a large e chogenic mass in the left temporo-parietal area of the fetal brain with sig nificant midline shift and dilatation of the contralateral lateral ventricl e. A detailed sonogram obtained 7 h later showed that the mass had increase d in size, and this suggested an expanding hematoma. An emergency cesarean section was performed. Postnatal MRI demonstrated an enhancing mass with a large hematoma. Biopsy revealed a malignant brain tumor. Further management was refused and the boy died 6 days after birth. The postmortem patho-logi cal diagnosis was glioblastoma. When fetal sonography demonstrates an echog enic mass, a congenital brain tumor should be considered. The mode of deliv ery should be determined by the nature of the mass and the condition of the fetus.