Week 5 Flashcards
what are the general clinical feature of CNS tumors
Clinical features: focal neurological deficit (usually due to compression), seizures (usually with cerebral cortex), general neuro sx (HA, AMS), increased ICP
Increased ICP tends to be due to: growth of neoplasms, peritumoral edema, secondary changes to neoplasm (cysts, hemorrhage), or obstruction of CSF pathway àbrain herniation
Primary vs Metastatic
regarding CNS tumors
- Metastatic (poor prognosis)
- Etiology: Metastatic tumors present as multiple, well-circumscribed lesions usually from lung, breast, or kidney tumors
- Site: cerebellum, cerebrum, vertebral bodies with compression of spinal cord
- Micro: resembles original tissue
Adult vs Children
CNS tumors
Adults usually get supratentorial tumors while children get infratentorial tumors
Craniopharyngioma
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: children, but can also be seen in adults
- Location: suprasellar (origin from Rathke’s pouch) –> can cause bitemporal hemianopsia
- Micro: crystals found in “motor oil” and calcifications (see pic)
- Gross: well-defined cystic mass; may be calcified
- Prognosis: benign; high ten-year survival if small and excised
Neurofibroma
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Etiology: genetic (NF1 mutation) or sporadic mutations
- Location: cutaneous/visceral nerves, spinal roots
- Micro: S100 positive Schwann cells, NFP-positive axons present; spindle cells with wavy collagen (see pic)
Schwannoma (malignant tumor of Schwann cells)
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: adult
- Location: anywhere Schwann cells are present; classically at the cerebellar-pontine angle, peripheral nerves, CN VIII (vestibular Schwannoma)
- Micro: S100 positive, contain compact areas (Antoni A – see star) and loose areas (Antoni B – see arrow), palisading growth pattern (Verocray bodies) is typical of Antoni A
- Gross: well-defined, compressing surrounding tissue; if bilateral –> NF-2
- Prognosis: good, treated with surgery
Meningioma
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: very common tumor in adults
- Location: anywhere where arachnoid cells are found (meninges)
- Micro: proliferation of arachnoid cells; whorling growth (see pic), psammoma bodies
- Gross: well-defined tan-fibrous mass attached to dura –> compressing adjacent CNS tissue
- Prognosis: good prognosis; benign; can be excised
Pinealoma
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: children
- Sx: can cause parinaud syndrome (compression of tectum –> vertical gaze palsy), hydrocephalus, precocious puberty in males (beta-HCG production)
- Micro: looks like testicular seminoma/germ cell tumor
Hemangioblastoma
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: adult; associated with von-Hippel-Lindau syndrome with retinal angiomas
- Location: cerebellum
- Micro: closely arranged thin-walled capillaries; produces EPO –> secondary polycythemia
Medulloblastoma
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: children (common tumor in children)
- Location: cerebellum (esp. vermis)
- Micro: Homer Wright rosettes (see pic - cells surrounding vessel), small blue cells, synapthophysin (yellow) IHC
- Gross: well-defined; may extend into 4thventricle/aqueduct/CSF foramina àhydrocephalus
- Prognosis: highly malignant, but 5 to 10 year survival possible with treatment (surgery/chemo); drop metastasis via CSF to spinal cord possible
Ependymoma
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: children or young adults
- Location: 4thventricle (in children) and caudal end of spinal cord (in young adults)
- Pathophysiology: due to location, may block CSF flow and spread along CSF pathways àhydrocephalus
- Micro: perivascular pseduorosettes (see pic - cells surrounding a vessel), rod-shaped blepharoplasts (basal ciliary bodies), ependymal canal seen
- Gross: well-defined (note location)
- Prognosis: poor if in ventricle; good if caudal end of spinal cord
- Treatment: gross total resection with possible radiotherapy
Oligodendroglioma
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: adult
- Etiology: deletions of 1p and 19q chromosomes
- Location: frontal lobes
- Micro: round nuclei, clearing of cytoplasm (see pic – fried egg)
- Gross: calcified circumscribed tumor of white matter
- Prognosis: favorable if treated (mean survival: ten years)
- Treatment: surgical excision with or without temozolomide and PCV (procarbazine, lomustine, vinicristine)
Glioblastoma Astrocytoma (Grade IV)
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: 50s to 70s
- Location: cerebral hemispheres
- Micro: pseudo-palisading pleomoprhic tumor cells, mitotic figures prevalent, poorly differentiated, GFAP-positive, vascular proliferation (see pic)
- Gross: ill-defined borders; necrosis, hemorrhage; not homogenous, crosses corpus callousàbutterfly lesion
- Prognosis: poor (12-month survival); if progression from lower grade àbetter prognosis
Anaplastic Astrocytoma (Grade III)
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: 40s to 60s
- Location: cerebral hemispheres
- Micro: highly infiltrative, poorly differentiated, increased mitotic activity (see pic), no vascular proliferation
- Gross: ill-defined edges on MRI
- Prognosis: mean survival about 3 years
Diffuse Astrocytoma (Grade II)
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: 30s to 40s
Location: cerebral hemispheres
Micro highly infiltrative astrocytic cells (see pic - small dark cells diffusely), no mitotic activity, no vascular proliferation/necrosis
Gross: ill-defined edges on MRI
Prognosis: usually progress to anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma, 6-8 year survival
Pilocytic Astrocytoma
epidemiology, locations, micro, gross, prognosis, tx
- Epidemiology: most common glial neoplasm in children
- Location: cerebellum and optic nerve pathway/hypothalamus
- Micro: Rosenthal fibers (see pic - red corkscrew fibers), biphasic pattern of density, GFAP-positive, eosinophilic (granular bodies found)
- Gross: on imaging, cystic lesion with mural nodule (white dot with black around it)
- Prognosis: benign; excellent prognosis with total excision
- Treatment: surgical excision

Pilocytic Astrocytoma (Grade I)

Diffuse Astrocytoma (Grade II)

Anaplastic Astrocytoma (Grade III)

Glioblastoma Astrocytoma

Oligodendroglioma

Ependymoma

Medulloblastoma

Meningioma



















