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Surgical Management of a Giant Glial Hamartoma in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report Publisher Pubmed



Sharifi G1, 2 ; Paraandavaji E2 ; Naghizadeh S2 ; Nilipour Y3, 4 ; Kazemi MA5, 6 ; Khanbabazadeh S7 ; Taghizadehhesary F8, 9
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Loghman Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Pediatric Pathology Research Center, Research Institute for Children’S Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Neuromuscular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Radiology, Amiralam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Radiology, Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center (ADIR), Medical Imaging Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. Division of Vascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  8. 8. School of Medicine, ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, the Five Senses Health Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  9. 9. Radiation Oncology Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Child's Nervous System Published:2025


Abstract

Introduction: Glial hamartomas are benign growths of glial cells, and their management is challenging due to their rarity and variable presentation. We present a case of a giant glial hamartoma in a pediatric patient, incidentally discovered during routine imaging for a planned tonsillectomy. Case description: A 7-year-old boy with no prior neurological symptoms was found to have a large glial hamartoma in the right frontal lobe, measuring 67 mm in height and 50 mm in transverse diameter. Imaging studies revealed a hyperdense mass with internal calcifications on CT, hypointense on T1-weighted MRI, and hyperintense on T2-weighted MRI. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis, showing benign glial cells, Rosenthal fibers, and eosinophilic granular bodies. A multidisciplinary team decided on surgical resection due to the tumor’s size. The tumor was resected without complications, and postoperative recovery was uneventful. Follow-up MRIs at 4 months and 2 years post-surgery showed no residual tumor or recurrence. Conclusions: This case underscores the role of radiological evaluation in identifying rare asymptomatic glial hamartomas and supports surgical resection to prevent complications. Comprehensive follow-up is essential for early detection of any recurrence. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025.