butterfly glioma
A glioma that crosses the midline through the corpus callosum, creating a bilateral symmetric appearance.
Full Definition
A butterfly glioma is a descriptive term for tumors that cross the midline via the corpus callosum, creating a symmetric bilateral appearance reminiscent of butterfly wings on axial imaging. These lesions most commonly represent glioblastomas that have infiltrated through commissural white matter tracts. The butterfly pattern indicates extensive tumor infiltration and typically portends a poor prognosis due to the bilateral involvement and proximity to eloquent structures. Surgical management is challenging given the midline location and bilateral extent of disease.
Usage
Usage note: Descriptive term based on imaging appearance, not a formal tumor classification.
In Context
- "MRI revealed a butterfly glioma extending across the corpus callosum into both frontal lobes." — Radiology report
- "The butterfly glioma's bilateral extent limited surgical options to stereotactic biopsy." — Multidisciplinary tumor board discussion