Spinal tumors

Question 1

Answer 1

Cauda equina neuroendocrine tumor

Rare entity with a benign clinical course. Overexpress HOXB13, the homeobox gene associated with this region during development.

Morphologically, these tumors are similar to paragangliomas with a zellballen architecture. Salt-and-pepper neuroendocrine-type nuclei. On occasion may have ependymoma-like perivascular rosettes.

IHC: Synapto +, chromo +, HOX13B+. Sustentacular cells show S100+.