Brain tumors

Question 1

Glioblastoma multiforme

Answer 1

aka. Grade IV astrocytoma
Poor prognosis - median survival 1 yr
Most common primary brain tumor in adults
Stain = GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) (GFAP +)
Pseudopalisading necrosis
Cross midline -> butterfly glioma

Question 2

Meningioma

Answer 2

Second most common primary brain tumor in adults
Benign
Arises from arachnoid cells
Dural tails = attachments to dura
Whorled spindle cells and psammoma bodies

Question 3

Hemangioblastoma

Answer 3

Most often occurs in the cerebellum
Can secrete EPO leading to a secondary polycythemia
Associated with von Hippel Lindau syndrome

Question 4

Schwannoma

Answer 4

Peripheral nerve tumor
S-100 positive
Neurofibromatosis type 2 - bilateral acoustic Schwannomas

Question 5

Oligodendroglioma

Answer 5

Rare and slow growing
Occurs most commonly in the frontal lobes
Fried egg cells on histo w/ calcification

Question 6

Pituitary adenoma

Answer 6

Benign
Most commonly a prolactinoma
Bitemporal hemianopia

Question 7

Pilocytic astrocytoma

Answer 7

Most common primary brain tumor in kids
Low grade and benign
Supratentorial - posterior fossa
GFAP +
Rosenthal fibers - eosinophilic, corkscrew fibers

Question 8

Medulloblastoma

Answer 8

Highly malignant primitive neuroectodermal tumor
Compresses 4th ventricle -> hydrocephalus
Can give off “drop metastases” to the spinal cord
Homer-Wright rosettes

Question 9

Ependymoma

Answer 9

Ependymal cell tumor
Compression of 4th ventricle -> hydrocephalus
Perivascular rosettes

Question 10

Cranipharyngioma

Answer 10

Benign - derivative of Rathke’s pouch
“only” childhood supratentorial tumor
Can be confused with pituitary adenoma - bitemporal hemianopia