Atypical and Rare Variants of Central Neurocytomas

Imaging of Neuronal and Mixed Glioneuronal Tumors

Neuronal and mixed glioneuronal tumors represent a group of neoplasms with varying degrees of neural and glial elements. Their age of presentation varies, but they are most commonly seen in children and young adults. With the exception of anaplastic ganglioglioma and other atypical variants, most lesions are low grade; however, they can have significant morbidity because of seizures, mass effect, or difficult to treat hydrocephalus. Although many tumors show overlapping clinical and imaging features, some have relatively distinctive imaging characteristics that may aid in narrowing the differential diagnosis. In this review, we discuss relevant clinical and pathologic characteristics of these tumors and provide an overview of conventional and advanced imaging features that provide clues as to the diagnosis.

Extraventricular neurocytoma with ganglioid differentiation of the sellar and parasellar regions in an elderly patient: A case report

Background:

Extraventricular neurocytoma (EVN) is a rare variant of central neurocytoma which arises outside of the ventricular system. Diffuse ganglioid differentiation is a characteristic seen in a subset of these tumors which has an uncertain prognostic significance. Typically, EVN presents in children and young adults. Given the rarity of this tumor, the natural history and response to treatments remain unclear.

Case Description:

We present a case of EVN with diffuse ganglioid differentiation in a 70-year-old male which arose in the midline parasellar region and extended into the third ventricle. This is the oldest such patient reported. Despite prior reports that extremes of age are associated with more aggressive behavior, the tumor in this case did not exhibit such an aggressive course.

Conclusion:

In this report, we review the natural history and clinical course of this patient and summarize the literature regarding this rare pathological entity. Our patient responded well to therapy despite older age, ganglioid differentiation, and higher mitotic index.

Neurocytoma mimicking macroadenoma

Background

Intraventricular and extraventricular central neurocytomas (CN) are equally frequent among 20-40-year-old men and women. However, sellar and suprasellar extraventricular CN are extremely rare, with only 12 reported cases.

Case Description

The authors report the case of a Brazilian 27-year-old man who presented with progressive vision loss during the last 4 years and serious bilateral keratoconus. We also review the epidemiological, clinical, radiological, pathological, and treatment features of the 12 reported cases. The patient developed left amaurosis and right temporal hemianopsia after undergoing bilateral corneal transplantation, which was detected during campimetry testing, and subsequently underwent magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed a huge hypophyseal tumor. Endocrinological evaluation revealed complete loss of pituitary function. The patient was referred to our department and underwent a two-step surgery (using transsphenoidal approach and cranio-orbital zygomatic approach) based on the diagnosis of an extraventricular central nervous system neurocytoma. Tumor removal was successful, and the patient was discharged at 3 weeks after admission to our department.

Conclusion

Although extraventricular neurocytomas of the brain are rare, careful preoperative consideration of its anatomy, pathophysiological features, and radiological features can enhance the treatment outcomes.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of brain central neurocytoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

This study is designed for the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of central neurocytoma (CN).

METHODS

CN patients from 2004 to 2012 were enrolled from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data. Clinical characteristics including age, sex, race, tumor size, tumor number, surgery, and radiation therapy were summarized. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to explore the prognostic factors of CN.

RESULTS

CN tended to be borderline malignant and single lesion. Compared with other brain tumor (NCN), Patients with CN (CNs) were more likely to be female, young, and non-white race. Surgery was the primary treatment of CN. Univariate and Multivariate analysis indicated tumor number and surgery were both independent prognostic factors of CN (P < 0.05). Unifocal CNs had a lower mortality risk than multifocal ones (HR 0.167, 95% CI 0.052-0.537), surgery significantly reduced the death risk of CNs (HR 0.284, 95% CI 0.088-0.921).

CONCLUSIONS

CN tend to be borderline malignant, single lesion, operated on. Most CNs are female and younger. single lesion and surgery are the independent positive prognostic factors of CN.

[Central neurocytomas: clinical and radiopathological correlations: about 12 cases]

Les neurocytomes centraux sont définis comme étant des néoplasmes composés de cellules rondes, uniformes, ayant un profil immunophénotypique neuronal et un index de prolifération bas. Elles représentent 0,5% des tumeurs intracrâniennes. Elles sont habituellement situées à proximité du foramen de Monro et peuvent être à l’origine d’une hydrocéphalie obstructive. Nous rapportons 12 observations de neurocytomes centraux colligés au laboratoire d’anatomie pathologique du CHU Mohammed VI de Marrakech entre janvier 2006 et juin 2015. Le but de ce travail est de rapporter et décrire les aspects radio-pathologiques de ce type histologique rare. Le sex-ratio homme/femme était de 1,4. L’âge moyen au diagnostic était de 22,3 ans. La symptomatologie révélatrice était dominée par l’hypertension intracrânienne chez tous nos patients, associée à une baisse de l’acuité visuelle et une diplopie. Notre matériel d’étude a concerné une biopsie simple dans un cas, une exérèse subtotale dans sept cas et une exérèse totale dans quatre cas. L’étude histopathologique a montré une prolifération tumorale d’architecture endocrine. Les cellules tumorales sont uniformes de petite taille le plus souvent. L’index mitotique était bas. Cette prolifération tumorale s’accompagnait d’un fond fibrillaire et d’un réseau vasculaire développé de type arborescent. L’étude immunohistochimique était identique chez tout les patients. Elle a montré une positivité des cellules tumorales à l’anticorps anti synaptophysine, à chromogranine et NSE. Chez tous nos patients la corrélation radiopathologique était en faveur d’un neurocytome central (Grade II – OMS 2016). A travers cette série, nous rapportons les particularités anatomo-cliniques, radiologiques et évolutives de ces tumeurs rares.