CNS tumors

Question 1

what is the location of primary brain tumors in adults vs children

Answer 1

adults: supratentorial
children: infratentorial

Question 2

what are the MC primary CNS tumors in adults? (3)

Answer 2

gliobastoma multiforme

meningioma, schwannoma

Question 3

what are the MC primary CNS tumors in kids? (3)

Answer 3

pilocytic astrocytoma
ependyoma
medulloblastoma

Question 4

Where does gliobastoma multiforme usually arise and what is it’s buzzword explained?

Answer 4

arises in cerebral hemisphere and characteristically crosses the corpus callosum “butterfly lesion”

Question 5

what does gliobastoma multiforme look like on micro

Answer 5

regions of necrosis surrounded by tumor cells (pseudopalisading) and endothelial cell proliferation

Question 6

What does gliobastoma multiforme stain positive for? and what is this

Answer 6

GFAP+

-intermediate filament present in glial cells

Question 7

What is the MC malignant and benign CNS tumor in adults

Answer 7

malignant = gliobastoma multiforme
benign = meningioma

Question 8

what does histo reveal in meningiomas

Answer 8

Whorled pattern, psammoma bodies

Question 9

Schwannoma: beign or malignant

Answer 9

benign

Question 10

Schwannoma: stains what?

Answer 10

S-100+

Question 11

Schwannoma: bilateral tumors are assc with what?

Answer 11

NF-2

Question 12

Oligodendroma: imaging appearance

Answer 12

calcified tumor in white matter involving frontal lobe

Question 13

Oligodendroma: what might it present with?

Answer 13

seizures

Question 14

What is the MC CNS tumor in kids?

Answer 14

pilocytic astrocytoma

Question 15

Where does pilocytic astrocytoma usually arise

Answer 15

cerebellum

Question 16

pilocytic astrocytoma: imaging

Answer 16

cystic lesion with a mural nodule (nidule growing in it’s wall)

Question 17

pilocytic astrocytoma: bx shows what?

Answer 17

rosentha fibers (thick eosinophilic processes of astrocytes)

Question 18

medulloblastoma: benign or malignant? derived from what

Answer 18

malignant; derived from the granular cells of the cerebellum (neuroectoderm)

Question 19

medulloblastoma: how does it spread and what is it called when it spreads to cauda equina

Answer 19

spreads via CSF, called a “drop metastasis” when spreads to cauda equina

Question 20

Ependyoma: arises where and presents how? and why does it have this CP

Answer 20

arises in 4th ventricle and presents with hydrocephalus bc it grows out into ventricle and blocks CSF flow

Question 21

From what does a craniopharyngioma arise

Answer 21

epithelial remnants of Rathke’s pouch (pharynx tissue)

Question 22

How does craniopharyngioma present?

Answer 22

bitemporal hemianopsia

Question 23

what is seen on imaging in craniopharyngioma

Answer 23

calcifications (derived from tooth like material)

Question 24

craniopharyngioma: benign or malignant

Answer 24

benign but tends to recur after resection