5: CNS Neoplasms and Tumors

Question 1

major location for kids vs adults CNS tumors***

Answer 1

kids: posterior fossa
adults: cerebral hemisphere

Question 2

major deciding factor in a tumor’s clinical course/prognosis

Answer 2

location in the brain

Question 3

seven of the most common pediatric brain tumors

Answer 3

1. astrocytoma
2. ependymoma
3. choroid plexus tumors
4. embryonal (medulloblastoma, PNET, AT/RT)
5. ganglioglioma
6. craniopharyngioma
7. germ cell tumors

Question 4

grade 1-4 of tumors: what makes them unique

Answer 4

1. low prolif potential
2. infiltrative
3. anaplasia and mitoses
4. microvascular prolf and/or necrosis*** -> fatal outcome

Question 5

age vs astrocytoma grading

Answer 5

lower grade = more likely in younger populations

grade 1 first decade, grade 2 3rd-4th decade, grade 3 5th decade, grade 4 6th+ decade

Question 6

MC primary brain neoplasm

Answer 6

glioblastoma

Question 7

what mutation in glioblastoma has a better prognosis

Answer 7

IDH1 mutation (vs the wild type with a worse prog)

Question 8

true rosette

Answer 8

tubular structure with a central canal

Question 9

MC pineal tumor

Answer 9

germinoma

Question 10

list of pineal tumors

Answer 10

germinoma, pineal parenchymal tumors, astrocytoma

Question 11

pinecytoma vs pineblastoma

Answer 11

1. pinecytoma: low grade pineal tumor, usually in adults

2. pineblastoma: high grade pineal tumor, usually in kids