Sudden Unexpected Death From Oligodendroglioma A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Maria Manousaki, Helen Papadaki, Asteria Papavdi, Elena F. Kranioti, Panagiotis Mylonakis, John Varakis, Manolis Michalodimitrakis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Sudden and unexpected deaths due to asymptomatic 5 primary brain tumors are extremely rare, with an incidence that ranges from 0.16 to 3.2%. Usually, such tumors are glioblastomas or, less commonly, astrocytomas. Asymptomatic oligodendrogliomas causing sudden death are hardly ever reported among medico-legal investigated cases.

We report a rare case of sudden and unexpected death from a previously asymptomatic and undiagnosed, well-differentiated, grade II oligodendrogloioma (WHO classification). According to the autopsy and the microscopic findings brain edema as a result of obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid flow due to hemorrhagic leakage of the oligodendroglioma is incriminated as the most probable physiopathological mechanism for the sudden death. Diagnosis is mainly based on the special microscopic features of the tumor cells (typical Bfried-egg[ appearance), interrupted by a dense network of branching capillaries. We discuss further the pathophysiological mechanisms of death and present a short review of literature.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)336-340
Number of pages5
JournalThe American journal of forensic medicine and pathology
Volume32
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2011

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