Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor (DNET) - Temporal Lobe

Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor (DNET) is a benign, WHO grade I glioneuronal tumor typically presenting in children and young adults with long-standing, pharmacoresistant epilepsy. The temporal lobe is the most common location.

• Age: Childhood to young adulthood (most < 20 years)
• Slight male predominance
• ~80% of cases involve the temporal lobe

• Chronic, intractable focal epilepsy
• Often normal neurological exam
• Rarely causes increased intracranial pressure or neurological deficits

Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor Diagnosis.

• Surgical resection is the treatment of choice
• Gross total resection often cures epilepsy
• Recurrence is rare

• Excellent long-term prognosis
• Very low risk of malignant transformation
• Seizure freedom in >80% after complete resection

• Ganglioglioma
• Oligodendroglioma (especially low-grade)
• Cortical dysplasia without tumor
• Low-grade astrocytoma

• WHO Classification of Tumors of the CNS, 2021
• Guerrini R, et al. Epilepsy surgery and DNETs. Epilepsia. 2012.
• Blumcke I, et al. Histopathological findings in long-term epilepsy surgery. Brain Pathol. 2007.