Astrocytoma

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An astrocytoma is a neoplasm derived from an astrocyte. Astrocytomas are common. This article deals with, among other things, rare astrocytomas. An overview of CNS tumours is found in the CNS tumours article.

Other

Pleomorphic xanthroastrocytoma

  • Abbreviated PXA.

General

  • Kids & young adults.
  • Prognosis usu. good.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Large cells with intracytoplasmic lipid accumulation, i.e. foamy cytoplasm - key features.[1]
    • May not be obvious/one may have to search for this.
  • Focal marked nuclear atypia - including hyperchromasia, marked nuclear enlargement, irregular chromatin.
  • Multinucleation - common.

Images:

IHC

Features:[2]

  • GFAP +ve -- required for Dx, may be patchy.
  • S-100 +ve -- cytoplasm, usu. diffuse.

Glioblastoma

  • Previously known as glioblastoma multiforme (abbreviated GBM).

General

  • Median survival is measured in months.[3]
  • Only about 5% can expect to survive more than three years.[4]

Microscopic

Features:

  • Astrocytic tumour with:
    • Nuclear atypia.
    • Necrosis.
    • Endothelial proliferation (AKA microvascular proliferation).
    • +/-"Pseudopalisading necrosis" - tumour cells lined-up like a picket fence around necrotic areas.

Images:

Gliosarcoma

General

  • Considered to be a variant of glioblastoma by WHO.[5]
  • Rare ~ 200 cases reported in the literature.[5]
  • Definition: gliosarcoma = glioblastoma + sarcomatous component.[6]
  • Usual location (like glioblastoma): temporal lobe.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Glioblastoma.
  • Sarcomatous component (one of the following):[5][6]
    • Fibroblastic.
    • Cartilaginous.
    • Osseous.
    • Smooth muscle.
    • Striated muscle.
    • Adipocyte.

Image: Gliosarcoma - elastic von Gieson (WC).

See also

References

  1. URL: http://moon.ouhsc.edu/kfung/jty1/neurotest/Q14-Ans.htm. Accessed on: 13 January 2011.
  2. URL: http://www.pathconsultddx.com/pathCon/diagnosis?pii=S1559-8675%2806%2970469-7. Accessed on: 13 January 2011.
  3. Jubelirer, SJ.. "A review of the treatment and survival rates of 138 patients with glioblastoma multiforme.". W V Med J 92 (4): 186-90. PMID 8772403.
  4. Krex, D.; Klink, B.; Hartmann, C.; von Deimling, A.; Pietsch, T.; Simon, M.; Sabel, M.; Steinbach, JP. et al. (Oct 2007). "Long-term survival with glioblastoma multiforme.". Brain 130 (Pt 10): 2596-606. doi:10.1093/brain/awm204. PMID 17785346.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Han SJ, Yang I, Tihan T, Prados MD, Parsa AT (February 2010). "Primary gliosarcoma: key clinical and pathologic distinctions from glioblastoma with implications as a unique oncologic entity". J. Neurooncol. 96 (3): 313–20. doi:10.1007/s11060-009-9973-6. PMC 2808523. PMID 19618114. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2808523/.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Ayadi L, Charfi S, Khabir A, et al. (March 2010). "[Cerebral gliosarcoma: clinico-pathologic study of 8 cases]" (in French). Tunis Med 88 (3): 142–6. PMID 20415184.