Glioblastoma multiform with ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis: carotid artery stent promote tumor growth?

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke and glioblastoma multiforme have similar features on anatomic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and thus may require a surgical biopsy for a definitive diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old male complained of dysphasia for 4 weeks and continuous deterioration for 5 days. Cerebral infarction was considered based on MRI, which showed hyperintensity at the border zone of the left hemisphere, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed left carotid artery severe stenosis. The patient underwent placement of a left carotid artery stent, and his symptoms recurred 2 months after carotid artery stent (CAS). MRI showed multiple ring-enhanced lesions in the left temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes accompanied by massive brain edema. The final pathologic diagnosis was glioblastoma multiforme. CONCLUSION: Although there is no evidence that stent therapy for carotid artery stenosis will worsen an ipsilateral glioblastoma, we should be careful to perform surgeries involving carotid artery stents when the patient has a glioblastoma.