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Cerebral neurocytoma. A new subset of benign neuronal tumors of the cerebrum
Author(s) -
Nishio Shunji,
Takeshita Iwao,
Kaneko Yoichi,
Fukui Masashi
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19920715)70:2<529::aid-cncr2820700225>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - cerebrum , histogenesis , pathology , central neurocytoma , medicine , glial fibrillary acidic protein , magnetic resonance imaging , central nervous system , anatomy , immunohistochemistry , radiology , endocrinology
Three cases of patients with unusual neuronal tumors in the cerebral hemisphere are reported. All were associated with long‐standing epileptic seizures. Computed tomography disclosed low‐density lesions without contrast enhancement, which were interpreted as either arachnoid cysts or a cerebral infarction at initial diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging scans, however, revealed the lesions to be solid tumors. At surgery, the tumors were found to be relatively well demarcated, soft, and gelatinous. Histologically, all tumors were composed of small uniform stellate cells, which proliferated in a loose myxoid fibrillary matrix and resembled either oligodendroglial or astrocytic tumors. Ultrastructurally, however, all tumors showed neuronal differentiation, including numerous clear and occasional dense‐core vesicles, microtubules, and a number of synapses. A review of the literature uncovered no other such cases, and therefore it was decided to classify these tumors as a distinct group of benign neuronal tumors, designated as “cerebral” neurocytoma compared with “intra‐ventricular” neurocytoma. Related nosologic problems of neuronal tumors of the central nervous system and their possible histogenesis are also discussed. Cancer 1992; 70:529–537.