Lhermitte-Duclos disease: A series of six cases

Abstract

The Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD), also known as dysplastic cerebellar gangliocytoma, is a rare lesion characterized by variable enlargement of cerebellar folia. The pathological basis of LDD has long been debated, as it has overlapping features of both, a neoplasm and hamartoma. Association between LDD and Cowden syndrome (CS) has been established based on the presence of phosphatase and tensin homologue germline mutation in both. We present a series of six cases of LDD: Four females and two males, aged between 16 and 38 years, presenting with headache and imbalance on walking of 1–7 months duration. Histomorphology showed thickening and vacuolation of the molecular layer, loss of Purkinje cells, and replacement of granular cell layer by large dysplastic ganglion cells. Awareness of histological features of this rare entity and a higher level of suspicion is required for the correct diagnosis, which, in turn, should prompt thorough investigations to exclude features of associated CS. LDD is a rare entity, awareness of its histological features and correlating them with radiology is essential, especially in tiny biopsies; to render the correct diagnosis. Diagnosis of LDD warrants further clinical workup and close follow-up for the associated features of CS.