Diagnostic Dilemma: Is there any evidence of neoplasia in this brain tissue? (BN01-01)

Patient History:

A 65 year old man developed weakness on the right side of the body attributed to a contrast enhancing mass lesion of the left temporal lobe of the brain. A brain biopsy was performed.

Original Diagnosis:

Brain tissue exhibits acute and subacute hemorrhage, mixed perivascular inflammatory infiltrate, gliosis and edema. No evidence of amyloid angiopathy. No metastatic neoplasm is seen. Mutational analysis will be requested to look for genetic evidence of neoplasia. (Indeterminate)

RedPath Diagnosis:

A total of four microdissection targets that were most representative of the diagnostic tissues were selected for analysis. The absence of acquired mutational change excludes neoplasia and affirms a reactive etiology. This excludes high grade glioma and also renders low grade glioma an unlikely possibility.

Generic sample of PathFinderTG® quantitative test results. NOTE: A diagnostic interpretation of the quantitative test results is provided by the RedPath Pathologist.
Click here for test result explanation

Clinical Impact:

Without a definitive diagnosis the patient would have been subject to either waiting 3-6 months and repeating the entire diagnostic procedure, including biopsy, or be treated for a presumed glioma. The PathFinderTG analysis provided the information to avoid a repeat biopsy or multimodality cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy for his cerebral infarction.