Recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme in a childhood: A case report

Abstract

GBM is a highly aggressive malignant tumor that rarely happens in children. Pediatric GBM is the primary cause of death in children with brain neoplasms. Treatment of GBM is a difficult and challenging condition, especially in pediatric GBM. Surgical tumor resection combined with chemoradiotherapy suggests as standard therapeutic approaches for GBM. However, the recurrence of GBM is an inevitable event and can occur in more than 90% of patients. We present an unusual case of an 11-years-old girl with recurrence of GBM. She complained of progressive headache and left hemiparesis as an initial manifestation. She was diagnosed with GBM three years before. Near-total surgical resection followed with chemotherapy, and radiotherapy was done after the diagnosis. Head imaging showed a smaller lesion, and her symptoms were improved significantly. Two years after, she was admitted to the hospital with worsening symptoms. Imaging evaluation showed the enlargement of tumor lesions. Recurrence of GBM is a great challenge to manage, and there are no well-defined management protocols. Several studies suggest that treatment options may follow the adult patients' approach, but pediatric GBM has significantly different characteristics than adults.