Martin: Tumors Flashcards
Which grade of tumor is considered infiltrative?
Grade II
In which decade of life are Grade II, III, and IV Astrocytomas found?
- Grade II: usually 3rd-4th decase
- Grade III: usually 5th decade
- Grade IV: usually 6th decade and beyond
Pilocytic Astrocytomas generally occur during what decades of life?
Where in brain do they typically occur?
- First 2 decades of life
- Cerebellum and floor/walls of 3rd ventricle, occasionally cerebral hemispheres
What are the distinguishing morphological characteristics of Pilocytic Astrocytomas?
- Well-circumscribed, often CYSTIC w/ a mural nodule
- Biphasic pattern
- Hair-like cells w/ long bipolar processes
- Rosenthal fibers
- Eosinophilic granular bodies (EGBs)
Which disease predisposes patients to Pilocytic Astrocytomas and due to what?
NF-1 due to functional loss of neurofibromin
Among the higher grade glioblastomas, presence of what mutation is associated with a better outcome?
Mutant form of IDH1
What is the histologic pattern characteristically produced by Glioblastomas?
Pseudo-palisading: tumor cells collecting along the edges of necrotic regions
Necrosis in glioblastoma often occurs in a ________ pattern in areas of hypercellularity
Serpentine
Which additional features differentiate a glioblastoma from anaplastic astrocytomas?
Necrosis and vascular (glomeruloid type)/endothelial cell proliferation
What characteristic of Glioblastomas is seen on MRI?
Ring-enhacing lesions with central necrosis
Which tumor often crosses the corpus callosum and produces a “butterfly” appearance
Glioblastoma
Contrast ring enhancing lesions, with hypodense central necrosis is characteristic of what kind of tumor?
Glioblastoma
Which brain tumor appears as a cystic mass with a mural nodule?
Pilocystic astrocytoma
When are Oligodendrogliomas most commonly seen (decades)?
How are they graded?
- Most common in fourth and fifth decades
- Grade II/IV
What are the most common mutations seen in Oligodendrogliomas; which have a better prognosis?
- IDH1 and IDH2 (better prognosis)
- 1p19q (favorable prognosis)
- CDKN2A
What are the distinguishing morphological characteristics of Oligodendrogliomas?
- CALCIFICATION
- Perinuclear halos, “fried eggs” and delicate anastomosing capillaries, “chicken wire”
Which features distinguish an Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma (III/IV) from an Oligodendroglioma?
Vascular hypertrophy, necrosis, and nuclear anaplasia
During which decades of life are Ependymomas most commonly seen and where are they most commonly located?
- First 2 decades
- Fourth ventricle = most common site
- Spinal cord = most common for adults
Which chromosome is the NF2 gene found on?
Chromosome 22
Well circumscribed tumors in the brain that often have cysts, focal hemorrhage, and calcification generally describes?
Oligodendrogliomas
A tumor displaying uniform populations of cells w/ round or oval nuclei w/ abundant clumped chromatin and the appearance of perivascular rosettes is often what type?
Ependymoma
Which rosette type found in ependymomas are more diagnostic?
Ependymal rosettes (true rosettes) = MORE diagnostic than perivascular rosettes
What is a frequent clinical manifestation of posterior fossa ependymomas?
Hydrocephalus (non-communicating) secondary to progressive obstruction of the 4th ventricle
Homer-Wright rosettes are most often seen with what 2 brain tumors?
1) Medulloblastoma
2) Neuroblastoma
Choroid plexus papillomas are most often found where in children and adults?
- In children – lateral ventricles
- In adults – fourth ventricle
Who is most often affected by Non-neoplastic Colloid Cysts of the 3rd Ventricle?
What is the clinical manifestation?
- Young adults
- Found attached to roof of 3rd ventricle, can obstruct foramina of Monro = non-communicating hydrocephalus
- Can be rapidly fatal
What is the most common malignant embryonal CNS tumor in children?
Medulloblastoma (IV/IV)
Medulloblastomas are often located where?
Midline of the Cerebellum
Medulloblastomas that occur in older children tend to have what genetic mutations?
- Mutations in WNT signaling pathway
- Monosomy of chromosome 6
- Nuclear expression of β-catenin
What is the prognosis of the WNT type of medulloblastomas?
Best prognosis: with 90% 5-year survival
Medulloblastomas with the second best prognosis, behind the WNT type, tend to occur in infants-young children and are associated with what mutations?
- Mutations in SHH pathway
- May also have MYCN amplification
Group 3 medulloblastomas (worst prognosis) tend to occur in infants-young children and are associated with what mutations?
- MYC amplification
- Isochromosome 17 (i17q)
What are the mutations associated with group 4 Medulloblastomas and what is the prognosis?
- i17q cytogenic alterations, classic or large cell histology
- WITHOUT MYC amplification
- Sometimes with MYCN amplification
- Intermediate prognosis, in general i17q signals a worse prognosis
What is a common complication due to Medulloblastomas propensity to form linear chains and infiltrate?
- Dissemination through CSF is common complication, giving rise to nodular masses some distance from the priamry tumor (i.e., as far as the cauda equina) – Drop Metastases