Dweik, Khaled

Abstract We describe a 46-year-old male with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and a previously known parenchymal medullary mass identified in 2022, initially managed with surveillance. In late 2023, he developed a progressive brainstem syndrome prompting presentation to our center. MRI showed a T2/FLAIR hyperintense, heterogeneously enhancing ventral medullary mass with leptomeningeal involvement, a non-enhancing right pontine lesion, right optic nerve glioma, and nodular leptomeningeal foci at T4 and L4–L5. He received IMRT to the brainstem prior to tissue diagnosis with good local response. Due to progression at T4, biopsy revealed a hypercellular, mitotically active glioma without necrosis or microvascular proliferation. Molecular profiling demonstrated IDH1/2-wildtype, H3K27M-negative, retained ATRX, intact 1p/19q, and CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion. DNA methylation profiling classified the tumor as high-grade astrocytoma with piloid features (HGAP). Spinal lesions responded to proton therapy, but new metastatic foci emerged in the subependymal lateral ventricles, leptomeninges, and cervical spinal cord. He underwent whole-brain radiation, oral temozolomide, and intrathecal cytarabine/etoposide. In June 2024, cell-free DNA analysis showed a similar molecular profile with newly identified 1p/19q codeletion, diverging from tissue findings. The patient remains alive >3 years from initial presentation. HGAP is a novel molecular class of IDH-wildtype gliomas defined by DNA methylation profiling and MAPK pathway alterations (commonly NF1, BRAF, FGFR1), CDKN2A/B codeletion, and ATRX alterations. These tumors often resemble glioblastoma or diffuse midline gliomas on imaging and are typically infratentorial or spinal, complicating biopsy. Prognostic data are limited, with <50% 5-year overall survival and no clear prognostic value of MGMT promoter methylation. This case illustrates multifocal HGAP in a patient with NF1 with favorable survival. The acquired 1p/19q codeletion raises questions about tumor mosaicism, subclonal evolution, and prognostic implications.