GLIOMA-13 RIGHT FRONTO-PARIETAL PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA WHO GRADE I ASSOCIATED WITH HEMORRHAGIC COMPONENT AND ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION IN AN ADULT: A CASE REPORT

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a primary glial neoplasm and low-grade tumor. After total resection, the prognosis is very good. A poor prognosis results from leptomeningeal spreading and bleeding, both of which are extremely uncommon in Pilocytic Astrocytoma patients. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 43-year-old male that presented with a 4 days’ history of right sided frontal headache, non-radiating and mostly felt in the morning. Not associated with vomiting and fever. In addition, there was a sudden decline in level of consciousness with no associated stool or urine incontinence. The patient also developed three episodes of tonic clonic convulsions, lasting less than 3 minutes associated with urine incontinence and frothing from the mouth. Two days later, there was a sudden onset of left sided weakness involving upper and lower limbs. However, there is no history of trauma or hypertension. He was identified as having a hemorrhagic right fronto-parietal PA evidence on MRI associated with essential hypertension. The patient had an intervention combination of medical treatment and craniotomy via fronto-temporal approach plus excision of lesion. Histopathological examination of specimen determined that it was PA WHO grade I. He was treated with oral anti-epileptic therapy (Phenytoin 300 mg once a day), folic acid supplementation (400 mcg once a day), anti-hypertensive therapy (Amlodipine 10 mg and Losartan 50 mg once daily) and he showed marked improvement and was discharged home after 1 month and followed up by primary neurosurgeon, oncologist and physician. CONCLUSION: This case report raises awareness of Pilocytic Astrocytoma among adults and emphasizes the value of early diagnosis and management of patients with Pilocytic Astrocytoma associated with essential hypertension can prevent complications, reduce morbidity and mortality.