Gliomas are primary brain tumors of the central nervous system. They account approximately 30% of all brain and central nervous system tumors and 80% of all malignant brain tumors [1].

Meningioma is a tumor that arises from the arachnoidal cap cells of the brain and spinal cord meninges. There are three grades for meningioma and has multiple variants for each type by World Health Organization (WHO). Meningothelial, fibrous (fibroblastic), transitional (mixed), psammomatous, angiomatous, microcytic, secretory, lymphoplasmocyte-rich and metaplastic are examples from grade I. Grade II examples are clear cell, chordoid and atypical rhabdoid, papillary and anaplastic (malignant), can be in a form of sarcoma or carcinoma and are grade III [2].

Extracranial meningioma is very rare. Primary extracranial meningioma account less than 2% from all types of meningioma in a large series in the United States [3]. Secondary meningioma or distant metastasis are very rare, only 0.1% of incidence [4].

There have been reported of 111 cases of coincidental intracranial meningioma and glioma in a literature. The condition is very rare and there will be a diagnostic dilemma as well as difficulty in management [5]. We reported a rare occurrence of a meningioma following total excision and radiotherapy of glioma in a short period. Herein, an atypical meningioma is transformed into meningiosarcoma and metastasized extracranially in a month. There is also a possibility but very rare of this patient to develop primary extracranial meningiosarcoma.

Two or more primary cancer can coexist at the time of diagnosis (synchronous), or develop consequently (metachronous), sometimes years after resection of the first primary. There are multiple reasons reported for the occurrence of two primary cancers in short duration period. Both synchronous or metachronous cancer may be related and share the same factors. If the cells were the same type, it can indicate metastasis, but, however, both cancers might be independent. The time of diagnoses of both cancers are also important to determine whether the second cancer developed from the first cancer treatment or the natural age presentation of the second cancer. Relation of two or more types of cancers might lead to new therapies, provided target surveillance for cancer patients risk factors or causal agent are identified [6].

A 20-year-old Malay female was referred to our centre in May 2013. She presented with fever for 2 days, vomiting and right diplopia. patient's mother had history of brain tumor, with no further details available. Physical findings were right ptosis with sluggish pupillary reaction. Other findings were unremarkable. The CT scan and the MRI scan of brain were reported as right frontal lobe tumor with intra-tumor hemorrhage, measuring 5.4x4.2x5.3 cm (Figure 1A). She underwent craniotomy and tumor resection followed by radiotherapy. The histopathology revealed diffused astrocytoma grade 2 (Figure 1B).

She presented with recurrent headaches in December 2014. Patient had multiple follow-ups from first craniotomy to this presentation in 1 year 7 months. During follow-up patient was well. CT brain showed right temporal brain tumor (Figure 2A). Patient underwent craniotomy followed by radiotherapy. Histopathology was reported as atypical meningioma (Figure 2B).

One month after second craniotomy, she presented with right supraclavicular swelling which was gradually increasing in size. and associated with right shoulder and arm pain, weakness and numbness. There was no skin changes, it was fixed, firm and measured around 6 cm in diameter. No other swellings were noted. Her right power grip was 4/5 and other neurological assessments were unremarkable. Radial pulse was normal. Other examinations were unremarkable.

A CT scan brain revealed multiple intracranial enhancing mass (3.1 x 2.2 cm) at the craniotomy site at frontal and parietal region with minimal midline shift to the left and dilated lateral ventricles. The CT scan of supraclavicular mass showed irregular wall enhancement (5.0 x 3.6 cm x 5.6 cm) with a hypodense centre suggesting necrosis. There was no evidence of lung masses (Figure 3A).

Fine needle aspiration of the supraclavicular mass was inconclusive. Exploration and debulking of the supraclavicular mass (April 2015) revealed it being adherent to the adjacent tissue. Superomedially to the scalene muscle and inferolaterally to the chest wall. Histopathological examination was reported as malignant tumor with sarcomatous appearance (Figure 3B). Immunochemistry tests revealed features that were compatible of meningiosarcoma or malignant meningioma. It was positive to epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), vimentin, S100 and focal positive with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). No brain biopsy was performed.

Patient has multiple risk factors of brain tumor namely being a female in the reproductive age with a family history of brain tumor (mother) and had history of radiation.

She was referred to the oncologist for further treatment but defaulted follow-up. She was then readmitted in July 2015 due to swelling on the scalp over the post craniotomy site (Figure 4). However, no further active intervention was done at this stage.

Gliomas are more common with increasing age, male, white race and non-Hispanic ethnicity. Gliomas causes are unknown. However, families with neurofibromatosis, a genetic inherited disorder, have increased risk of developing gliomas. WHO grade I and II are considered low-grade. Low-grade astrocytomas are uncommon tumors compared to higher-grade III and IV. LGGs especially diffuse astrocytoma typically arises in young adults as reported in this case [1].

Diffuse astrocytoma should not be considered benign even though it is a slow growing tumour. "Watchful waiting" with MRI scanning is recommended for lesions with surgical inaccessibility, well-controlled symptoms of seizure with anticonvulsants and patients not keen for surgery. Conventional strategies may include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or combinations. Overall survival has significant improvement in more aggressive resection compared to debulking [1].

This patient was re-admitted with another brain tumor which was revealed as atypical meningioma, a grade II meningioma. There have been similar reports in an intracranial collision tumor which have histologically distinct primary tumors such as meningioma and glioma in the same brain region . However in this case, the tumors occurred in different sites of the brain at different times.

In general, meningioma is more common in women. Endogenous and exogenous hormones could be considered as one of the factor predisposing to meningioma. Meningioma tends to grow larger in pregnancy and during the luteal phase of menstruation period [2].

Radiation also is one of the risk factors pre-disposing to radiation-induced meningioma [2]. Reported risks of developing meningioma, 6–10 times higher in exposure to ionizing radiation than no exposure [7]. Radiation-induced meningioma is a known long-term complication of radiation exposure. A retrospective review of 30 patients with radiation-induced meningioma within 1960 to 2010 had mean radiation dose was 34 Gy (range 16–60 Gy). The review also showed that the latency time to meningioma was 26 years with the range of 8 to 51 years [8] [9] [10][11]. However, in our case the duration between the first radiation and development of meningioma was 1 year and 7 months. There is also increased risk of meningioma in certain genetic diseases such as in neurofibromatosis (NF type I and II) and familial meningioma [2].

Management of meningioma according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines 2011, are based on patients symptoms and size of tumor [2]. In asymptomatic patients with small tumor, active surveillance must be done to observe patients signs and symptoms and the tumor progression. In an accessible tumor, surgery is indicated for adequate removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue. For tumor that cannot be fully removed during surgery or recurrence, the treatment plan often includes radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy post-surgery [2] [5].

Atypical meningioma has aggressive behavior, increased risks of recurrence and a small risk of distant metastasis. Studies have shown that the recurrence rate were dependent on the extent of surgical resection, tumor location and accessibility of the tumor and the involvement of dura mater and bone [4].

Histopathological and immunochemistry test of the supraclavicular mass was reported as meningiosarcoma or malignant meningioma. It could have metastasized from a hematogenous spread of blood-brain barrier breached though previous craniotomy or by extra neural invasion of possible cervical plexus. In intracranial meningioma, 20% were reported to have extended to extradural space, whether via direct extension or metastasis [2]. Incidence of metastasis in meningioma has been reported to be less than 1 per 1,000 [2] [8]. In all types of meningiomas, the incidence metastasis is 0.76%, unlike malignant meningioma which has 43% incidence [8]. Local recurrence ranges from 9 to 32% following a complete tumour resection. The incidence of metastatic meningioma of atypical type and malignant meningioma are 5% and 30% respectively [4].

However, primary extradural meningiomas are more rare. It has been reported that extradural meningiomas occurs in a variety locations, more common in head and neck. There are association of extracranial meningioma with other neoplasm such as von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, osteoma, and ovarian fibromas. There are no definitive management of extracranial meningioma reported in literature [2].

Literature reviews has confirmed the association of intracranial meningiomas and gliomas. However, it is well recognized that the association of meningioma and glioma in the same patient represent a rare event. In young females endogenous and exogenous hormone could be a contributing factor. However, several authors reported that these associations are considered purely coincidental [5].

Prognosis of metastasis meningioma at the median follow up time of 24 months was that 92% were alive. This comprises of 95% benign and 78% malignant. Twenty four per cent had tumor recurrences which were 22% low grade and 33% high grade [2].

Following resection and radiotherapy of initial brain tumor, it is possible that this patient developed radiation-induced meningioma or maybe recurrence of the meningioma. It due time it may have progressed to malignant meningioma or meningiosarcoma which eventually metastasized to the supraclavicular region. There is also possibility that one tumor acts locally as an irritating factor that induced another unrelated neoplasm. Relation of two or more types of cancers might lead to new therapies, provided target surveillance for cancer patients and risk factors or causal agent are identified.

We acknowledge all the Radiologists in KPJ Tawakkal Specialist Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan K.L, Malaysia that involved in the reporting of all the images.

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