Pathology Flashcards
What is the most common form of brain tumour?
Which tumours spread to brain?
Metastasis
lung (most common)
breast
bowel
skin (namely melanoma)
kidney
What is the most common primary brain tumour?
Glioblastoma multiforme
What is the imaging of a glioblastoma multiforme?
Solid tumours with central necrosis and a rim that enhances with contrast.
Disruption of the blood-brain barrier and therefore are associated with vasogenic oedema.
What is the histology of glioblastoma multiform?
Pleomorphic tumour cells border necrotic areas
What is the second most common primary brain tumour?
Meningioma
What do meningioma arrise from?
Arachnoid cap cells of the meninges and are typically located next to the dura and cause symptoms by compression rather than invasion.
What is the histology of meningioma?
Spindle cells in concentric whorls and calcified psammoma bodies
What is a vestibular schwanoma?
Presentation?
Benign tumour
Located at cerebellopontine angle
Hearing loss, facial nerve palsy (due to compression of the nearby facial nerve) and tinnitus.
What genetic condition is associated with vestibular schwannoma?
NF2 - associated with bilateral vestibular schwannoma
What is the most common brain tumour in children?
Pilocytic astrocytoma
What is the histology of a pilocytic astrocytoma?
Rosenthal fibres (corkscrew eosinophilic bundle)
What are the features of a medulloblastoma?
Agressive paediatric tumour
arises within the infratentorial compartment
Spreads throughout the CSF
What is the histology of medulloblastoma?
Small, blue cells. Rosette pattern of cells with many mitotic figures
Where is a ependymoma located?
- Commonly seen in the 4th ventricle
- May cause hydrocephalus
What is the histology of a ependymoma?
- Histology: perivascular pseudorosettes
What is a benign slow growing tumour in the frontal lobe?
Oligodendroma
What is the histological appearance of an oligodendroma?
Calcifications with ‘fried-egg’ appearance
What is a vascular tumour of the cerebellum?
Haemangioblastoma
Histology: foam cells with high vascularity
What is haemangioblastoma associated with?
von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
What is a pituitary adenoma and how is it classified?
Benign tumour of the pituitary gland
Divided into microadenomas (smaller than 1cm) or macroadenoma (larger than 1cm).
May secrete extra hormone
What is the most common supratentorial paediatric tumour?
Craniopharngyoma
solid/cystic tumour of the sellar region that is derived from the remnants of Rathke’s pouch.
How does a craniopharngyoma present?
hormonal disturbance, symptoms of hydrocephalus or bitemporal hemianopia.
What is the function of collagen I?
Bone, skin and tendon
What is the function of collagen II?
Hyaline cartilage, vitreous humour