Angiomatous variant of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma in a patient with a 20-year history of epilepsy

The angiomatous variant of the pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a morphological subtype of PXA that is characterized by the presence of large numbers of tiny blood vessels with variable wall thicknesses. A case of an angiomatous variant of PXA occurring in the temporal lobe of a 43-year-old man is presented. The patient had a 20-year history of seizures. Considering the clinical course and intra-operative electro-encephalography findings, it appears that this tumor was the epileptic focus in this patient and that it had been present for 20 years, Histopathologically; various degenerative changes, such as microcystic changes, calcification and hyaline thickening of vessel walls were seen in the tumor. In particular, obvious vascularity in the tumor and secondary vascular degeneration should be related to gradual growth and benign clinical course of an angiomatous variant of PXA.