[A case of low grade glioma with Takayasu disease (aortitis syndrome)]

Abstract

We experienced a rare case of Takayasu disease with low grade glioma. A 36 year-old female had an episode of right hemiconvulsion. On admission, she complained a slight memory disturbance, urination difficulty and motor weakness of right extremities. CT scan demonstrated a low density lesion in the left frontal lobe. MRI showed an inhomogeneous low intense mass on T 1 WI and a homogeneous high intense mass on T2 WI in the same site. No abnormal contrast enhancement was observed in both CT and MRI. Bilateral carotid angiograms demonstrated a filling defect of the left anterior cerebral artery. An aortogram revealed moderate stenosis of the left carotid artery and the brachiocephalic artery, and complete obstruction of the left subclavian artery. CT-guided stereotactic biopsy was performed using BRW stereotactic system and histological diagnosis was astrocytoma grade II. She was followed by interstitial irradiation of 50 Gy at tumor periphery for 10 days. Her neurological symptoms gradually improved, and she is doing well without neurological deficits at the time of this report. The CT scan obtained 13 months after the brachytherapy revealed a decrease in the extent of low density. Brachytherapy seems to be useful for patients with low grade glioma in the eloquent area of the brain.