Tumours of the nervous system

Question 1

What are the most common types of nervous system tumours?

Answer 1

Gliomas and meningomas

Question 2

What is a Glioma?

Answer 2

tumour of neurones

Question 3

What makes up Glia?

Answer 3

1) Astrocytes (support and protect)
2) Oligodendrocytes (myelin)
3) Ependymal cells and choroid plexus cells (CSF)
4) Microglia (immune)

Question 4

How to differentiate between benign and malignant tumour?

Answer 4

Benign:

• slow growing
• non invasive
• slow progression

Malignant:

• Rapid growing
• Invade / destroy surrounding tissue
• progress
• recurrent

Question 5

What is the histological criteria for malignancy in brain tumour?

Answer 5

1) cellular density and atypia
2) Mitotic activity
3) Necrosis
4) Vascular proliferation

Question 6

what brain tumour is identified by round uniform nuclei with clear cytoplasm (fried egg appearance)

Answer 6

Oligodendroglioma:

• round uniform nucleus
• arborising capillaries
• calcifications

Question 7

What is an ependyoma?

Answer 7

well defined tumour of the ventricles