Autopsy cases of glioblastoma multiforme

Six autopsy cases of glioblastoma multiforme in cerebral hemisphere were examined by large histological preparations. They were treated by surgery and high-dose fractionated radiation therapy (5 Gy twice weekly). Their morphological changes were compared to the last CT and radiation field and total doses. Four out of six cases showed small residual tumor. One case showed extensive necrosis of the tumor and brain. The other case exhibited no tumor tissue at all. Spongy degeneration of the white matter associated with astrocytosis and macrophage infiltration extended sometimes beyond the local irradiation field. These white matter changes occurred easily in the previous peritumoral edema where tumor cell infiltration was frequently observed. Residual tumor cells consisted of small anaplastic cells, which might be radioresistant and recur. Enhancement effect of CT scan showed tumor tissue and radiation necrosis with vascular proliferation. (author)