Intracranial gliofibroma mimicking a meningioma: a case report and review of literature

Gliofibromas are rare glio-mesenchymal tumors composed of astrocytic and benign mesenchymal components, which commonly occur in the first two decades of life. They are not listed as a distinct entity in the current WHO classification of CNS tumors. Their biological behaviour is unknown, and histogenesis is debatable. We describe a case of histopathologically proven gliofibroma in the region of the left quadrigeminal plate in a 15-year-old child that mimicked a tentorial meningioma both at imaging and surgery. Post-operatively, the residual tumor regrew to a size similar to the initial mass (4 cm × 3.6 cm × 3.5 cm), within one and a half years after the first surgery. The histopathology of the tumor was similar on both occasions. Although a poor prognosis has been characteristically noted in gliofibromas with high-grade glial component, but the present case had recurrence despite being of low-grade, thus highlighting the uncertain behaviour of this rare tumor.