NEURO - PATH - Childhood Primary Brain Tumors

Question 1

Pilocytic (low-grade) astrocytoma

Answer 1

*most common

*Rosenthal fibers—eosinophilic, corkscrew fibers
Cystic + solid (gross).

GFAP⊕

In children, most often found in posterior fossa(eg, cerebellum).
May be supratentorial.

Benign; good prognosis

Question 2

Medulloblastoma

Answer 2

• Homer-Wright rosettes,
• small blue cells

Highly malignant cerebellar tumor

Can compress 4th ventricle, causing noncommunicating hydrocephalus.

Can send “drop metastases” to spinal cord

Question 3

Ependymoma

Answer 3

*perivascular rosettes
*Rod-shaped blepharoplasts (basal ciliary bodies) found near
nucleus

most commonly found in 4th ventricle

Can cause hydrocephalus

Poor prognosis

Question 4

Craniopharyngioma

Answer 4

Cholesterol crystals found in *“motor oil”–like fluid within tumor.
Calcification is common

Derived from remnants of Rathe pouch

Most common childhood supratentorial tumor

Question 5

Pinealoma

Answer 5

Tumor of pineal gland

Can cause Parinaud syndrome (compression of tectum Ž vertical gaze palsy)
obstructive hydrocephalus (compression of cerebral aqueduct)
precocious puberty in males
(β-hCG production).