NEURO - PATH - Adult Primary Brain Tumors

Question 1

Glioblastoma multiforme (grade IV astrocytoma)

Answer 1

• most common
• “Pseudopalisading” pleomorphic tumor cells

Stain astrocytes for GFAP

Found in cerebral
hemispheres.
Can cross corpus callosum (“butterfly glioma”).

Question 2

Meningioma

Answer 2

• Spindle cells concentrically arranged in a whorled pattern
• Psammoma bodies (laminated
  calcifications) .

Most often occurs near surfaces of brain and
parasagittal region.

Arises from arachnoid cells

may present with seizures or focal neurologic signs

Question 3

Hemangioblastoma

Answer 3

Closely arranged, thin-walled capillaries with minimal intervening parenchyma

Most often cerebellar

Associated with *von Hippel-Lindau syndrome

Can produce erythropoietin–>2° polycythemia

Question 4

Schwannoma

Answer 4

Schwann cell origin
S-100⊕

Classically at the *cerebellopontine angle

Often localized to CN VIII–> Ž *vestibular schwannoma.

Bilateral vestibular schwannomas found in *NF-2.

Question 5

Oligodendroglioma

Answer 5

*“Chicken-wire” capillary pattern
Oligodendrocytes = “fried egg” cells—round nuclei with clear cytoplasm J .
Often calcified

Most often in frontal lobes

Question 6

Pituitary adenoma

Answer 6

Hyperplasia of a single type of endocrine cell found in pituitary

Most commonly prolactinoma

Bitemporal hemianopia