Glioblastoma Secondary to Meningioma: A Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiologies underlying meningioma and glioma are distinct. The coexistence of those 2 lesions in the same patient is rare, and at the same location, it is even more exceptional. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of a 79-year-old man initially presenting with a meningioma that was treated by complete excision of the lesion. The patient had 2 relapses at the same site, in which glioblastoma was confirmed histopathologically. CONCLUSIONS: Glial transformation meningiomas remain a contentious issue, with coincidental occurrence being the most prevalent explanation. Nevertheless, impairment of the same molecular signaling pathways in both tumor types suggests a common origin. Another hypothesis is that perilesional parenchymal damage from radiotherapy or surgery may lead to glial transformation in the tissues surrounding the original meningioma lesion. Further research is needed to determine if the original tumor or surgery has an oncogenic effect on the adjacent tissue.