Brain Tumours

Question 1

The most common primary brain tumour in adults.
* Histology: Pleomorphic tumour cells border necrotic areas

Answer 1

Gliolastoma multiforme

Question 2

• The second most common primary brain tumour in adults
• Histology: Spindle cells in concentric whorls and calcified psammoma bodies

Answer 2

Meningioma

Question 3

Often seen in the cerebellopontine angle: acoustic neuroma
* Bilateral schwannoms are seen in neurofibromatosis
* Histology: Antoni A or B patterns are seen. Verocay bodies (acellular areas surrounded by nuclear palisades)

Answer 3

Schwannoma

Question 4

The most common primary brain tumour in children
* Histology: Rosenthal fibres (corkscrew eosinophilic bundle)

Answer 4

Pilocytic astrocytoma

Question 5

• More common in children
• Found exclusively in the posterior fossa
• Metatases through the CSF
• Histology: Small, blue cells. Rosette pattern of cells with many mitotic figures

Answer 5

Medulloblastoma

Question 6

Commonly seen in the 4th ventricle
* May cause hydrocephalus
* Histology: perivascular pseudorosettes

Answer 6

Epyndymoma

Question 7

Benign, slow-growing tumour common in the frontal lobes
* Histology: Calcifications with ‘fried-egg’ appearance

Answer 7

Oligodendroma

Question 8

Vascular tumour of the cerebellum
* Associated with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
* Histology: foam cells and high vascularity

Answer 8

Hemangioblastoma

Question 9

Most common type is a prolactinoma
* May present with bitemporal hemianopia

Answer 9

Pituitary adenoma

Question 10

Most common paediatric supratentorial tumour
* Histology: Derived from remnants of Rathke pouch

Answer 10

Craniopharyngioma

Question 11

Most common type of brain tumour

Answer 11

Metastases

Question 12

4 Most common adult tumours in order

Answer 12

1) Metastatic tumours
2) Glioblastoma multiforme
3) Anaplastic astrocytoma
4) Meningioma

Question 13

3 most common child brain tumours in order

Answer 13

1) Astrocytoma
2) Medulloblastoma
3) Ependymoma