A radiotherapy refractory brain lesion among breast cancer metastases diagnosed postoperatively as glioblastoma multiforme: A case report

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. The association between breast cancer and glioblastoma multiforme has not been investigated thoroughly. This case presents a case of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) which was found concurrently with breast cancer metastases. Case Summary: The patient is a 53 years old right-handed female with a history of breast cancer, metastatic to bone and liver, who had undergone stereotactic ablative radiotherapy to manage metastases to T10 vertebra, right acetabulum and left hip bone 2 years earlier. Six months prior to the current presentation, the patient was diagnosed with four apparent metastatic lesions to the brain (left cerebellum, right frontal, left parieto-occipital, and left temporal). The patient received Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT). A follow-up MRI 4 months later revealed that all three smaller lesions responded well to SRT except for a mild increase in the size of the larger left temporal lesion with surrounding edema. The patient underwent a craniotomy for resection of the temporal lesion. Pathology revealed that the lesion was glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) rather than being another brain metastatic tumor. Conclusion: Althoughmost brain tumors are metastases, primary brain tumors should be considered a possibility even in the presence of another source of metastases; especially if there is a lesion refractory to treatment. © 2019 The Authors