title: Primary cerebral neuroectodermal tumors: neuroblastoma, differentiated neuroblastoma, and composite neuroectodermal tumor.
abstract: Seven cases of primary cerebral neuroectodermal tumors with predominant neuroblastic features were studied ultrastructurally and five were evaluated immunohistochemically. The fine structural features were indicative of neuroblastic differentiation by the presence of elongated cytoplasmic processes, electron-dense neurosecretory granules, and neurotubules. Five of the seven cases had the morphologic findings of classic cerebral neuroblastoma, and the sixth case, originally diagnosed as an oligodendroglioma, had the features of a differentiated neuroblastoma. Desmoplastic and/or stromal foci were intermingled with neuronal-ganglionic cells and neuroblasts in the seventh case. In addition to strong immunoreactivity for S-100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein in the desmoplastic areas, the spindle cells had fibroblastic and Schwannian features by electron microscopy in the latter case. The neuroblastic cells and fibrillary network were immunoreactive for neuron-specific enolase and neurofilament in the five study cases. It is concluded that cerebral neuroectodermal tumors may express an range of phenotypic features from the exclusive neuroblastic stage to a neuronal and stromogenic phase analogous to the classic neuroblastoma of the sympathetic nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School and Hospital, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Dehner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abenoza
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sibley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase