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BACKGROUND Diffuse astrocytic gliomas, IDH wildtype, with molecular features of glioblastoma (molecular glioblastomas) are associated with a poor prognosis. We previously found that these tumors frequently display gyriform infiltration, defined as areas of elective cortical hypersignal on MRI FLAIR sequence. The objective of the present study was to assess the diagnostic value of gyriform infiltration as an imaging marker for these tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS MRI scans from 430 patients with newly diagnosed glioma (molecular glioblastoma n = 31, IDH wildtype glioblastoma n = 298, IDH-mutant astrocytoma n = 50, IDH-mutant and 1p19q codeleted oligodendroglioma n= 51) were evaluated for the presence of a gyriform infiltration by 2 independent reviewers. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated to assess the performance of the presence of a gyriform infiltration for identifying molecular glioblastoma. RESULTS A gyriform infiltration was observed in 16/31 (52%) patients with a molecular glioblastoma, 40/298 (13%) patients with an IDH-wildtype glioblastoma but in none of the patients with an IDH-mutant astrocytomas or an IDH-mutant and 1p19q codeleted oligodendroglioma. Among the 56 patients with a gyriform infiltration, 54 patients had an IDH wildtype pTERT mutant glioma and 2 an IDH wildtype pTERT wildtype glioma. Interrater agreement was good (κ= 0.68, P < 0.001). Specificity, sensitivity, PPV and NPV of the presence of a gyriform infiltration for the diagnosis of molecular glioblastoma were 90%, 29%, 52% and 96% and for the diagnosis of an IDHwt pTERT mutant glioma were 97%, 15%, 96% and 20%. The presence of a gyriform infiltration was associated with a worse prognosis in the entire cohort (13.6 months vs 29.3 months, P = .001). CONCLUSION Gyriform infiltration is a specific imaging marker of molecular glioblastomas and IDH wildtype pTERT mutant diffuse gliomas.

BACKGROUND We previously showed that TERT promotor (pTERT) mutations can be detected in a high proportion of non-diagnostic biopsies from glioma patients using SNaPshot PCR. The aim of the present study was to assess the diagnostic value of digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) in this setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS pTERT mutations were retrospectively assessed using SNaPshot PCR and ddPCR in the non-diagnostic biopsies of 14 adult patients who underwent an initial non-diagnostic needle biopsy that led to perform another biopsy that finally demonstrated a pTERT-mutant glioma. RESULTS Median age at diagnosis was 69 years and the median interval between the initial and final biopsy was 22 days. The initial biopsy consisted of unspecific infiltrating glial cells (n=10), hemorrhage, necrosis and/or fibrosis (n=4). Using SNaPshot PCR, the final biopsy found an IDH-WT pTERT-mutant glioma in 12 cases (glioblastoma n=12), an IDH-mutant pTERT-mutant oligodendroglioma in one case and an IDH-WT pTERT-WT glioblastoma in one case. Retrospectively, a pTERT mutation was identified by both ddPCR and SNaPshot in the non-diagnostic biopsies in 85% (11 /13) of pTERT mutant-gliomas. No mutation was detected in the non-diagnostic biopsies of IDH-WT pTERT-WT gliomas using either technique. Overall, a pTERT mutation were detected in 79% (11/14) of non-diagnostic biopsies. CONCLUSION Digital Droplet PCR, as SNaPshot PCR, enables the identification of pTERT mutations in a high rate of non-diagnostic biopsies from glioma patients. The sensitivity of both techniques seems similar in this setting.

BACKGROUND Pseudoprogression (PsP) is a well-known concern in IDH-wildtype glioblastomas. The aim of the present study was to describe its incidence in high-grade IDH-mutant gliomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics of a consecutive series of high-grade IDH-mutant gliomas treated with radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy between March 2009 and September 2017. PsP was defined as a new enhanced lesion that occurred after RT and subsequently disappeared or remained stable during follow-up for a least 6 months. RESULTS The study population consisted of 38 anaplastic IDH-mutant and 1p/19q codeleted oligodendrogliomas, 34 IDH-mutant anaplastic astrocytomas and 18 IDH-mutant glioblastomas. Treatment consisted of radiotherapy alone (n=8, 9%), radiotherapy and PCV chemotherapy (n=63, 70%) and temozolomide radiochemotherapy (n=19, 21%). After a median follow-up of 3.5 years (range 1–8 years), 24 patients (28%) presented a PsP that occurred after a median delay of 10 months after radiotherapy (2 to 32 months). PsP was more frequent in patients treated with RT+PCV than in those treated with RT+TMZ (34% vs 10%, p=0.05). During the first two years after RT completion, 19 patients (21%) presented a PsP and 15 patients (17%) a true progression. At last follow-up, 1 patient (4%) in the PsP group had died compared to 10 patients (16%) in the group of patients without PsP. CONCLUSION PsP is a frequent issue in IDH-mutant high-grade gliomas. Its timing of onset is delayed compared to the timing of PsP onset reported in IDH-wildtype glioblastomas. The association between the use of PCV chemotherapy and PsP requires validation in an independent series.

BACKGROUND H3 G34-mutant high-grade gliomas occur primarily in children but can also be encountered in adults. The aim of the present study was to describe the characteristics of H3 G34-mutant high-grade gliomas in adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analysed the characteristics of 17 adult H3 G34-mutant high-grade gliomas and compared them with those of adult grade IV gliomas with H3 K27M mutation (n=21), IDH mutation (n=42) and TERT promoter (pTERT) mutation (n=88). RESULTS Median age at diagnosis in H3 G34-mutant gliomas was 25 years (range: 19–33 y). All tumors had a hemispheric location. The radiological presentation was suggestive of a high-grade glioma in 6 patients but in 10 patients it initially suggested another diagnosis due to absent or faint contrast enhancement (n=9) or the presence of an initial intratumoral haemorrhage (n=1). In non- or faint contrast-enhancing cases, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was more helpful to suspect an aggressive tumor than MR spectroscopy and perfusion MRI. All H3 G34-mutant gliomas were classified as IDH wildtype glioblastomas. PNET-like foci were observed in 8 cases and most cases were immunonegative for ATRX (92%) and Olig2 (81%) and demonstrated MGMT promoter methylation (82%). The clinical, radiological and histological presentation of H3 G34-mutant gliomas was different from that of midline H3 K27M-mutant diffuse gliomas and from that of IDH-mutant and IDH-wildtype pTERT-mutant glioblastomas. Median overall survival of G34-mutant gliomas was 23.9 months compared to 19.6 months (p=0.16), 13.7 months (p=0.45) and 58 months (p=2.3x10-10) in H3 K27M-mutant diffuse gliomas, IDHwt pTERT-mutant and IDH-mutant glioblastomas, respectively. CONCLUSION Adults H3 G34-mutant high-grade gliomas are associated with distinct characteristics and a poor prognosis. DWI seems helpful to identify cases that present as non-contrast enhancing lesions and can wrongly suggest another diagnosis in these young patients.

BACKGROUND: Non-diagnostic biopsies are a recurrent issue in patients with a suspected brain tumor. Herein, in order to explore the utility of molecular testing in this setting, we determined whether IDH and TERT promoter (pTERT) mutations can be detected in non-diagnostic biopsies from glioma patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using Snapshot PCR, we retrospectively assessed IDH and pTERT mutation status in 28 adult glioma patients in whom a first non-diagnostic biopsy had led to perform a second biopsy. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 65 years and median delay between the first and second biopsy 21 days. The first biopsy consisted of non characterizable infiltrated glial cells (n=19), hemorrhage (n=4), necrosis (n=2) or normal tissue (n=3). The second biopsy demonstrated an IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (n=22), an IDH-wildtype astrocytoma (n=4), an IDH-mutant oligodendroglioma (n=1) and an IDH-mutant astrocytoma (n=1). A pTERT mutation was present in 21 cases. Retrospectively, the same IDH and pTERT mutations were identified in the non-diagnostic biopsies of the 2 patients with an IDH-mutant glioma and of 12 out of 21 patients with a pTERT-mutant glioma (57%). Overall an IDH and/or a pTERT mutation were detected in the non-diagnostic biopsies of 13 out of the 22 IDH-mutant and/or pTERT-mutant gliomas (59%) and in 13 out of the 28 cases included in the present series (46%). CONCLUSION: IDH and pTERT mutations can be detected in a high percentage of non-diagnostic biopsies from glioma patients supporting a role for molecular testing in the interpretation of non-diagnostic biopsies from patients with a suspected brain tumor

BACKGROUND: Adult IDH-wildtype astrocytomas with TERT promoter mutations (TERTp) are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of the present study was to analyze their radiological presentation and natural history. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the characteristics of 40 IDH-wildtype TERTp-mutant astrocytomas (grade II n=19, grade III n=21) and compared them to those of 114 IDH-mutant lower grade gliomas (LGG), of 92 IDH-wildtype TERTp-mutant glioblastomas and of 15 IDH-wildtype TERTp-wildtype astrocytomas. RESULTS: Most cases of IDH-wildtype TERTp-mutant astrocytomas occurred in patients aged >50 years (88%) and presented as infiltrative lesions without contrast enhancement (73%) that were localized in the temporal and/or insular lobes (37.5%) or corresponded to a gliomatosis cerebri (43%). Thalamic involvement (33%) and extension to the brainstem (27%) were frequently observed, as was gyriform infiltration (33%). This radiological presentation was different from that of IDH-mutant LGG, IDH-wildtype TERTp-mutant glioblastomas, and IDH-wildtype TERTp-wildtype astrocytomas. Tumor evolution before treatment initiation was assessable in 17 cases. Ten cases demonstrated a rapid growth characterized by the apparition of a ring-like contrast enhancement and/or a median velocity of diametric expansion (VDE) ≥ 8 mm/year but 7 cases displayed a slow growth (VDE < 8 mm/year) that could last several years before anaplastic transformation. Median overall survival of IDH-wildtype TERTp-mutant astrocytomas was 27 months. CONCLUSION: IDH-wildtype TERTp-mutant astrocytomas typically present as non-enhancing temporo-insular infiltrative lesions or as gliomatosis cerebri in patients aged >50 years. In the absence of treatment, although rapid tumor growth is frequent, an initial falsely reassuring, slow growth can be observed.