Rapidly growing dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor: Case report

OBJECTIVE: During the past 15 years, the concept of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors has continued to evolve. We present an interesting case of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor that showed rapid growth during a short period of time. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 9-year-old boy had been experiencing intractable complex partial seizures since the age of 7 years. Magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated a well-demarcated 3.5-cm lesion with a 1.5-cm ring-enhanced core in the left temporal lobe. One month later, the lesion had rapidly grown to occupy three times more space than on the first evaluation, with the ring-enhanced core reaching approximately five times its initial volume. INTERVENTION: A combined tumor removal and epileptogenic focus resection surgery was performed immediately. In the pathological examination, the presence of the specific glioneuronal element with a Ki-67 labeling index of lower than 1%, as well as the glial component with a Ki-67 labeling index of 8%, led to a postoperative diagnosis of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, complex form. No adjuvant therapy was performed. Five years after surgery, there is no evidence of any recurrence and the boy continues to be seizure free without antiepileptic drugs. CONCLUSION: The lesion did not behave as a stable benign entity as it is generally accepted, and is, therefore, presented as an argument in favor of an early and complete resection.