Postoperative regression of desmoplastic infantile gangliogliomas: Report of two cases

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Desmoplastic infantile gangliomas (DIGs) are extremely rare tumors that respond well to treatment. However, their biological behaviour remains to be clarified. We describe two patients whose DIGs spontaneously regressed after surgery, without adjuvant therapy. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 9-month-old girl presented with hemiparesis, and a 6-month-old boy presented with increasing head circumference. For both patients, neuroimaging demonstrated a huge cystic tumor that included a solid portion and was widely attached to the dura. Gadolinium-diethylenetraimine penta-acetic acid produced strong enhancement. INTERVENTION: One patient underwent partial and the other subtotal tumor removal. Histologically, both tumors were diagnosed as DIGs. Postoperatively, the residual tumors were monitored without adjuvant therapy, and both regressed in several months. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that DIGs may include a subgroup of tumors with a tendency for spontaneous regression, possibly attributable to the induction of apoptosis.