7.2 Tumours of CNS

Question 1

What is the function of astrocytes?

Answer 1

Provide metabolic support to the neurons and form the BBB - important for repair and scarring of nervous tissue

Question 2

What is the function of oligodendrocytes and where are they found?

Answer 2

Produce the myelin sheath around the white matter

Found in the white matter

Question 3

What is the function of Ependymal cells and where are they found?

Answer 3

Line the ventricles and produce CSF

Found in the ventricles

Question 4

What is the function of microglia?

Answer 4

Macrophages of the CNS

Question 5

What cells surround the cranial nerves?

Answer 5

Schwann cells

Question 6

What is unique about primary tumours of the brain?

Answer 6

They do not metastasize

Question 7

What are the symptoms of brain tumours?

Answer 7

Headache - intracranial pressure = BAD 
Focal neurological deficits 
Personality/mood chanes 
Seizures 
High intracranial pressure - headache worse in the morning, papilloedema 
Premature puberty 
Raised prolactin 
Sudden death

Question 8

What is the grading system for brain tumours?

Answer 8

AMEN 
Atypia 
Mitoses 
Endothelial proliferation  
Necrosis 

Other: cellularity, molecular

Question 9

What is the grade 1-4 WHO

Answer 9

I: low proliferation, possible cure following resection, grade stable
II: Recur as infiltrative, may be unstable
III: more aggressive recurrence with shorter time to demise - often need adjuvant chemo
IV: aggressive, high proliferation, rapid growth, usually fatal outcome