Pediatric Metastatic Extracranial High-Grade Glioma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Abstract We report a case of a 10-year-old male with a right frontal diffuse pediatric-type high-grade glioma (HGG), H3-wildtype (WT) and IDH-WT, diagnosed at the age of 9 years, who underwent gross total resection, 60 Gy focal proton radiation in 30 fractions to the resection cavity with concurrent temozolomide followed by maintenance chemotherapy with temozolomide and lomustine. One month after completion of maintenance chemotherapy, he developed subcutaneous swelling in the right temporal region and was treated with antibiotics for presumed lymphadenitis. Two months later, he developed a recurrent painless right parietal soft tissue mass that failed to respond to antibiotic therapy. This prompted evaluation by MRI which revealed new enhancing masses in the cerebellum and extracranial soft tissue mass in right temporal region. He underwent gross total resection of both masses. Pathologic analysis confirmed both masses as recurrent HGG. Molecular markers, however, differed between the two sites of recurrence. He proceeded to complete hypofractionated proton therapy to sites of recurrence. Three months later he was found to have tumor dissemination into the spine and brain for which he received proton therapy to the whole spine and brain. Due to the presence of CDK4 amplification at diagnosis and at both sites of tumor recurrence, he then received palliative treatment with the CDK4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, for the final five months of his life. Since extracranial HGG is a rare presentation, with few cases reported in the pediatric population, we report this case and review previously published literature.