Central neurocytoma: report of two cases

Abstract

Central neurocytoma is an uncommon neuro e ct o d e rm al tumor of young adults, usually situated in the lateral ventricles at the foramen of Monro , and was first individualized by Hassoun et al.1 . Histologically it often strikingly resembles oligodend roglioma. The diagnosis must be based on immun o h i s t o c h e m i s t ry for neuronal antigens such as synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) 2 or on electron microscopy demonstrating synapselike stru c t u re s 3 , 4 . Central neurocytomas are re l a t ively well delimited and have good prognosis 5,6 . CASESCase 1 -A 26-year-old woman presented with a prog ressive 6-month history of headache. Two and half months earlier she noticed decrease in muscle stre n g t h and tingling in both lower limbs, loss of visual acuity a n d u r i n a ry incontinence. On examination, she was alert and cooperative. There was mild anisocoria, mild tetraparesis, spasticity and hyperreflexia, more marked on the l e f t , bilateral ankle clonus, left sided dysmetria and a diff iculty for fine movements with the left hand. Sensibility was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Fig 1) demonstrated a large tumor (8 x 6 x 5 cm) straddling both lateral ventricles at the foramina of Monro, associated with supratentorial hydrocephalus. The lesion was h e t e rogeneous, with solid and cystic areas. The solid component was predominantly isointense in T1 and T2 weighted images and was strongly enhanced by contrast. Cystic areas were iso-or hypointense in T1 and iso-or hyperintense in T2. Large vessels were noted with-

Central Neurocytoma: a Case Report

“…Patient with incomplete excision may benefit from radiotherapy. 10 The tumor is considered of good prognosis, but a MIB-1 index higher than 2% appears to indicate otherwise. 11…”

Tumours of the Central Nervous System

“…Ultrastructurally, central neurocytoma is characterised by typical rounded neuronal cells containing dense-core vesicles, analogous to those described in gangliogliomas (Figs. 6.36 and 6.37) (Shimura et al, 2003;Borges et al, 2005;Iida et al, 2008).…”

Cerebellar Gliomatosis in a Toddler

“…47 However, the latter is not clear-cut, as vimentin labeling has been reported, albeit in rare cells, in neurocytic neoplasms with oligodendroglioma-like features. [48][49][50] By the same token, dysplastic neurons may coexpress vimentin with neuronal proteins including neurofilament protein and synaptophysin. 51,52 This coexpression has been shown in abnormal neurons of focal cortical dysplasias and is explained, in part, by enhanced transcription of intermediate filament genes in dysplastic neurons.…”