Clinico–Pathological Features of Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-Altered in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature with an Additional Single-Institution Case Series

<b>Background:</b> Diffuse midline glioma (DMG), H3 K27-altered, is a WHO grade 4 malignant glioma located at midline structures, including the thalamus, brainstem and spinal cord. While H3 K27-altered DMG is more common in pediatric age in which it shows a uniformly aggressive clinical...

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Main Authors: Giuseppe Broggi, Serena Salzano, Maria Failla, Giuseppe Maria Vincenzo Barbagallo, Francesco Certo, Magda Zanelli, Andrea Palicelli, Maurizio Zizzo, Nektarios Koufopoulos, Gaetano Magro, Rosario Caltabiano
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/23/2617
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author Giuseppe Broggi
Serena Salzano
Maria Failla
Giuseppe Maria Vincenzo Barbagallo
Francesco Certo
Magda Zanelli
Andrea Palicelli
Maurizio Zizzo
Nektarios Koufopoulos
Gaetano Magro
Rosario Caltabiano
author_facet Giuseppe Broggi
Serena Salzano
Maria Failla
Giuseppe Maria Vincenzo Barbagallo
Francesco Certo
Magda Zanelli
Andrea Palicelli
Maurizio Zizzo
Nektarios Koufopoulos
Gaetano Magro
Rosario Caltabiano
author_sort Giuseppe Broggi
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Diffuse midline glioma (DMG), H3 K27-altered, is a WHO grade 4 malignant glioma located at midline structures, including the thalamus, brainstem and spinal cord. While H3 K27-altered DMG is more common in pediatric age in which it shows a uniformly aggressive clinical behavior, its occurrence is relatively unusual among adults, and its clinico–pathological and prognostic features are not fully characterized in this age group. <b>Methods:</b> In this present paper, a review of the literature, including all cases of adult H3 K27-altered DMG published from January 2010 to December 2023 was performed, and the following clinical parameters were evaluated: sex, age (median and range), anatomic site, median follow-up, leptomeningeal dissemination, local recurrence and treatment. In addition, the clinico–pathological features of three additional adult cases from our retrospective series were also reported and discussed. <b>Results:</b> All tumors from our series exhibited a high-grade morphology with brisk mitotic activity; microvascular proliferation and necrosis were seen only in one case. The immunohistochemical loss of H3 K27me3 along with diffuse and strong immunoreactivity for H3 K27M was found in all cases, leading to the diagnosis of H3 K27-altered DMG. <b>Conclusions:</b> The literature review showed that adult H3 K27-altered DMG more frequently occurred in males aged between 18 and 40 years. The thalamus was the most affected site, followed by the brainstem and spinal cord, in both sex groups. Adult tumors exhibited less aggressive clinical behavior, with leptomeningeal dissemination and local recurrence reported in only 23.78% and 37.75% of cases, respectively.
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spelling doaj-art-be8cfcd0daa24b9ab61ea11403c85ec42025-08-20T02:38:36ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182024-11-011423261710.3390/diagnostics14232617Clinico–Pathological Features of Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-Altered in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature with an Additional Single-Institution Case SeriesGiuseppe Broggi0Serena Salzano1Maria Failla2Giuseppe Maria Vincenzo Barbagallo3Francesco Certo4Magda Zanelli5Andrea Palicelli6Maurizio Zizzo7Nektarios Koufopoulos8Gaetano Magro9Rosario Caltabiano10Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Policlinico “G. Rodolico-S. Marco” University Hospital, 95121 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Policlinico “G. Rodolico-S. Marco” University Hospital, 95121 Catania, ItalyPathology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42123 Reggio Emilia, ItalyPathology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42123 Reggio Emilia, ItalySurgical Oncology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42123 Reggio Emilia, ItalySecond Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, 15772 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy<b>Background:</b> Diffuse midline glioma (DMG), H3 K27-altered, is a WHO grade 4 malignant glioma located at midline structures, including the thalamus, brainstem and spinal cord. While H3 K27-altered DMG is more common in pediatric age in which it shows a uniformly aggressive clinical behavior, its occurrence is relatively unusual among adults, and its clinico–pathological and prognostic features are not fully characterized in this age group. <b>Methods:</b> In this present paper, a review of the literature, including all cases of adult H3 K27-altered DMG published from January 2010 to December 2023 was performed, and the following clinical parameters were evaluated: sex, age (median and range), anatomic site, median follow-up, leptomeningeal dissemination, local recurrence and treatment. In addition, the clinico–pathological features of three additional adult cases from our retrospective series were also reported and discussed. <b>Results:</b> All tumors from our series exhibited a high-grade morphology with brisk mitotic activity; microvascular proliferation and necrosis were seen only in one case. The immunohistochemical loss of H3 K27me3 along with diffuse and strong immunoreactivity for H3 K27M was found in all cases, leading to the diagnosis of H3 K27-altered DMG. <b>Conclusions:</b> The literature review showed that adult H3 K27-altered DMG more frequently occurred in males aged between 18 and 40 years. The thalamus was the most affected site, followed by the brainstem and spinal cord, in both sex groups. Adult tumors exhibited less aggressive clinical behavior, with leptomeningeal dissemination and local recurrence reported in only 23.78% and 37.75% of cases, respectively.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/23/2617diffuse midline gliomadiffuse intrinsic pontine gliomaadultH3 p.K28MH3 K27-altered
spellingShingle Giuseppe Broggi
Serena Salzano
Maria Failla
Giuseppe Maria Vincenzo Barbagallo
Francesco Certo
Magda Zanelli
Andrea Palicelli
Maurizio Zizzo
Nektarios Koufopoulos
Gaetano Magro
Rosario Caltabiano
Clinico–Pathological Features of Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-Altered in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature with an Additional Single-Institution Case Series
Diagnostics
diffuse midline glioma
diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma
adult
H3 p.K28M
H3 K27-altered
title Clinico–Pathological Features of Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-Altered in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature with an Additional Single-Institution Case Series
title_full Clinico–Pathological Features of Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-Altered in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature with an Additional Single-Institution Case Series
title_fullStr Clinico–Pathological Features of Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-Altered in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature with an Additional Single-Institution Case Series
title_full_unstemmed Clinico–Pathological Features of Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-Altered in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature with an Additional Single-Institution Case Series
title_short Clinico–Pathological Features of Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-Altered in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature with an Additional Single-Institution Case Series
title_sort clinico pathological features of diffuse midline glioma h3 k27 altered in adults a comprehensive review of the literature with an additional single institution case series
topic diffuse midline glioma
diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma
adult
H3 p.K28M
H3 K27-altered
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/23/2617
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