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Central neurocytomas express photoreceptor differentiation
Author(s) -
Mena Hernando,
Morrison Alan L.,
Jones Robert V.,
Gyure Kymberly A.
Publication year - 2001
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(20010101)91:1<136::aid-cncr18>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - central neurocytoma , pathology , synaptophysin , glial fibrillary acidic protein , enolase , neurofilament , ganglion , lateral ventricles , immunohistochemistry , retina , medicine , neuroendocrine differentiation , biology , anatomy , cancer , prostate cancer , neuroscience , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology
BACKGROUND Central neurocytomas are composed of mature neuronal elements, frequently arranged in rosettes similar to those present in pineocytomas. This suggests the possibility of similar patterns of differentiation, including photoreceptor differentiation. The authors analyzed the immunoreactivity of central neurocytomas for retinal S‐antigen, neuronal, glial, and neuroendocrine markers. METHODS Thirty‐three central neurocytomas were analyzed with reference to their clinicopathologic characteristics, immunoreactivity, and the possibility that anaplastic histologic features correlated with aggressive clinical behavior. RESULTS There were 18 male and 15 female patients. The median age at diagnosis was 30 years (range, 3–69 years). All of the tumors with specified location were related to the ventricles. Thirty‐two tumors were diagnosed at surgery and 1 at autopsy. Histologic features included mineralization (20 of 33), foci of necrosis (4 of 33), chronic inflammation (4 of 33), ganglion cell differentiation (1 of 33), and lipomatous differentiation (1 of 33). None of the lesions had significant nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic activity, or vascular endothelial proliferation. Immunohistochemistry included expression of synaptophysin (33 of 33), neuron specific enolase (31 of 33), S‐100 protein (25 of 33), retinal S‐antigen (14 of 24), somatostatin (8 of 27), glial fibrillary acidic protein (4 of 33), neurofilament protein (3 of 22), and leucine enkephalin (1 of 27). At follow‐up, 15 of 23 patients were alive an average of 8.1 years (range, 0.91–35.9 years) after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Central neurocytomas behave as slowly growing neoplasms that remain confined within one or several supratentorial ventricles and are associated with long survival after surgical excision. Malignant forms with aggressive clinical behavior were not found. The neoplastic cells can express photoreceptor differentiation possibly relating central neurocytomas to pineocytomas. Adipocyte differentiation may be present, and the possibility of a relation between the central neurocytoma and cerebellar liponeurocytoma should be entertained. Cancer 2001;91:136–43. Published 2001 American Cancer Society.