Neuroscience Week 5: Tumors of the CNS Flashcards
What % of tumors are supratentorial?
- 80% of adult tumors are supratentorial
- 80% of pediatric tumors are infratentorial

Intra-axial vs extra-axial tumors
- Extra-axial tumors are well demarcated and have a better prognosis
- Infiltrating tumors are rarely cured
Mass effect of neoplasms in the CNS
- Headache
- focal symptoms
- herniation
Infiltrating tumors can cause ___________ depending on location and also ___________.
- focal symptoms
- Seizures
Clinical presentations of CNS neoplasms non-focal
- head-ache
- seizures
Clinical presentations of CNS neoplasms focal
- motor
- sensory
- cerebellar
- seizure
- etc.
Types of herniations
- cingulate herniation
- transtentorial herniation
- Uncal herniation
- Cerebellar tonsilar herniation

Types of hydrocephalus

Main Types of CNS tumors
5 listed

Astrocytoma tumor type
Glioma
Most common type of glioma
Astrocytoma (>70% of gliomas)
Grades of Astrocytoma
4 listed

Pilocytic Astrocytoma grade
WHO grade 1
Pilocytic Astrocytoma age of onset
most common primary tumor in childhood
The most common primary tumor in childhood
Pilocytic Astrocytoma
Pilocytic Astrocytoma common location
common in cerebellum (also hypothalamus and optic chiasm)
Pilocytic Astrocytoma gross appearance
circumscribed and often cystic with a solid mural nodule

Pilocytic Astrocytoma Histological features and histological markers
- Cells of origin are GFAP positive
- biphasic pattern consisting of cellular and fibrillary perivascular areas, alternating with loose microcystic zones
- The tumor cells often contain Rosenthal fibers and eosinophilic granular bodies. Pilocytic (hair cell) refers to the fiber-like appearance of the tumor cells

Pilocytic Astrocytoma prognosis
- excellent
- because surgically resectable
Diffuse Astrocytoma Grade
WHO Grade 2

Diffuse Astrocytoma age of onset
most frequent in young adults
Diffuse Astrocytoma location
most frequent in the cerebral hemispheres, especially the frontal lobes
Diffuse Astrocytoma gross appearance
- poorly demarcated
- produce an enlargement of the involved portion of the brain and blurring of anatomical landmarks
Diffuse Astrocytoma Histological features
low grade cellularity and pleomorphism but no atypia or mitoses


















































