Gliosarcoma with cranial penetration and extension to the maxillary sinus.

Abstract

A 70 year old woman underwent an anterior rightsided temporal lobectomy for a mixed glioblastoma-fibrosarcoma. Six months later, she presented with rightsided zygomatic and maxillary swellings, associated with rightsided ptosis, chemosis, and nerve palsies of the III, IV, VI, and VII cranial nerves. A computerized scan (CT) of the head revealed tumor erosion of the skull base of the right middle fossa with extension into the maxillary sinus. This was confirmed at surgery. Pathologic examination revealed a predominantly small cell anaplastic glioblastoma associated with sarcoma elements, similar to the original intracranial tumor. This case documents a rare and atypical behavior of malignant glial tumors.