CNS Tumors

Question 1

Where do children primary tumors usually present compared to where adult primary tumors usually present?

Answer 1

Children - **infratentorial **

adults - supratentorial

Question 2

What are the MC CNS tumors in children?

Answer 2

Pilocytic astrocytoma

Ependymoma

Medulloblastoma

Question 3

What is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)?

Answer 3

Malignant, high-grade tumor of astrocytes

Question 4

What is the MC primary tumor in adults?

Answer 4

Glioblastoma multiforme

Question 5

Where does glioblatoma multiforme usually arise?

Answer 5

Usually arises in the cerebral hemisphre

Characteristically crosses the corpus callosum creating a butterfly leasion

Question 6

How is glioblastoma multiforme histologically characterized?

Answer 6

Regions of necrosis surrounded by tumor cells (pseudopalisading)

Endothelial cell prliferation

Question 7

Are glioblastoma multiforme tumor cells GFAP positive or negative?

Answer 7

GFAP positive

Question 8

What is meningioma?

Answer 8

Benign tumor of arachnoid cells

Question 9

Common clinical presentation of meningioma

Answer 9

Seizures

Tumor compresses the cortex but does not invade it

Question 10

What is seen upon imaging of meningioma?

Answer 10

Round mass attached to the dura

Question 11

What is seen on the histology of meningioma?

Answer 11

Histo shows a **whorled pattern **

Psammoma bodies may be present (calcified whorled bodies)

Question 12

What is a schwannoma?

Answer 12

Benign tumor of Schwann cells

Question 13

What nerve is most frequently involved in Schwannomas?

Answer 13

CN VIII at the cerebellopontine angle

Question 14

Are schwannomas S-100 positive or negative?

Answer 14

S-100 positive

Question 15

Bilateral schwannoma tumors are seen in what condition?

Answer 15

Neurofibromatosis type 2

Question 16

What is seen in imaging of oligodendroglioma?

Answer 16

**Calcified tumor in the white matter **

Question 17

What lobe of the brain is usually involved in oligodendroglioma?

Answer 17

frontal lobe

Question 18

What clinical presentation may be seen with oligodendroglioma?

Answer 18

Seizures

Question 19

What is the appearance of cells in the histology of oligodendroglioma?

Answer 19

Fried-egg appearance

Question 20

What is pilocytic astrocytoma?

Answer 20

Benign tumor of astrocytes

Question 21

What population most often presents with pilocytic astrocytoma?

Answer 21

children

Question 22

What is seen in the imaging of pilocytic astrocytoma?

Answer 22

Cystic lesion with a mural nodule

Question 23

Histo of pilocytic astrocytoma

Answer 23

Rosenthal fibers (thick eosinophilic processes of astrocytes)

Eosinophilic granular bodies

Question 24

Are pilocytic astrocytoma tumor cells GFAP positive or negative?

Answer 24

GFAP positive

Question 25

What is medulloblastoma?

Answer 25

Malignant tumor derived from the granular cells of the cerebellum (neuroectoderm)

Question 26

What age group normally develops medullblastoma?

Answer 26

Children

Question 27

Histo of medullblastoma

Answer 27

Small round blue cells Homer-Wright rosettes may be present

Question 28

What medium does medulloblastoma spread through?

Answer 28

Via CSF

Question 29

What is drop metastasis of medulloblastoma?

Answer 29

Metastasis to the cauda equina

Question 30

What is ependymoma?

Answer 30

Malignant tumor of ependymal cells

Question 31

Where does ependymoma normally arise? What complication does this cause?

Answer 31

Arises in the 4th ventricle This causes **hydrocephalus ** Growing into the 4th ventricle blocks CSF flow --\> hydrocephalus

Question 32

What is a characteristic finding on biopsy of ependymoma?

Answer 32

Perivascular pseudorosettes

Question 33

What is craniopharyngioma?

Answer 33

Tumor that arises from epithelial remnants of Rathke's pouch

Question 34

Does craniopharyngioma present as a supratentorial or infratentorial mass?

Answer 34

Supratentorial mass

Question 35

What structure may craniopoharyngioma compress? What complications does this lead to?

Answer 35

It may compress the optic chiasm leading to bitemporal hemianopsia

Question 36

What can be seen in the imaging of craniopharyngioma?

Answer 36

Calcifications from "tooth-like" tissues

Question 37

Is craniopharyngioma benign or malignant?

Answer 37

Benign but tends to recur after resection

Question 38

What age group develops craniopharygnioma?

Answer 38

Child or young adult

Question 39

MC supratentorial tumor in children?

Answer 39

craniopharyngioma