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Ependymoma with neuropil-like islands: a case report with diagnostic and histogenetic implications

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Abstract

We describe a case of ependymoma with neuronal differentiation in form of neuropil-like islands. A 6-year-old boy presented at clinical examination for a short history of headaches and vomiting. Brain computed tomography showed a large, partially cystic, parieto-occipital lesion. The tumor was composed by glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive round cells with a perivascular arrangement and scattered neuropil-like islands, showing intense positivity for synaptophysin. Despite radiotherapy, the tumor recurred, showing frank features of anaplasia, but lacking the neuropil-like islands. The histological features of the tumor are discussed in the light of the concept that neuronal differentiation can occur occasionally in gliomas of different lineage without affecting the expected biological behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

    Marco Gessi, Carla Marani & Felice Giangaspero

  2. IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy

    Antonella Arcella & Felice Giangaspero

  3. Department of Histopathology and Morbid Anatomy, Royal London Hospital, London, UK

    Jennian Geddes

  4. Department of Radiology and Pathology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Giovanna Cenacchi

  5. Neuropatologia c/o Neurochirurgia, Policlinico Umberto I, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Roma, Italy

    Felice Giangaspero

Authors
  1. Marco Gessi
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  2. Carla Marani
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  3. Jennian Geddes
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  4. Antonella Arcella
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  5. Giovanna Cenacchi
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  6. Felice Giangaspero
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Correspondence to Felice Giangaspero.

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Gessi, M., Marani, C., Geddes, J. et al. Ependymoma with neuropil-like islands: a case report with diagnostic and histogenetic implications. Acta Neuropathol 109, 231–234 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-004-0927-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-004-0927-y

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