Collision tumor of glioblastoma and meningioma: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial primary collision tumors of different histologic types are rare. Until now, it is still unclear about the occurrence of collision tumors. CASE DESCRIPTION: We described a 66-year-old female who presented with headache, nausea and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) scan showed that there were two primary intracranial tumors occurring simultaneously at adjacent sites of the right cerebral hemisphere. The pathology of tumors showed two distinct tumors: meningioma (WHO I) and glioblastoma(GBM). This is a rare case where two different intracranial primary tumors occur at adjacent sites but the patient had no history of head trauma, neurological surgery or radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: According to the previous and our present reports, the most common type of intracranial primary collision tumor is composed of a benign meningioma and a glioblastoma. During the occurrence of collision tumors, one tumor can play a role in the formation and growth of the other one.