[Central neurocytoma].
BACKGROUND
A central neurocytoma (CN) is a rare tumor, of neuronal origin, well-differentiated and found intraventricularly. It mainly affects young adults. Firm diagnosis is made on immunohistochemical (IHQ) and ultrastructural studies, since on optic microscopy it is similar in appearance to an oligodendroglioma or to an ependymoma.


METHODS
We studied 4 cases, three after surgical resection and one on autopsy. The average age was 29, ranging from 3 to 63. Both sexes were equally affected. In all cases IHQ techniques were used (GFAP, neurofilament, synaptophysin and specific neuronal enolase) and they were studied by electron microscopy.


RESULTS
IHQ was negative for GFAP and neurofilament, but intensely positive for synaptophysin and specific neuronal enolase. On ultrastructural study there were few neurofilaments, microtubules and dense central granules typical of neural differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings in our cases lead to diagnosis of NC and confirm that this tumor is a distinct clinicopathological entity.
Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica, CIREN, La Habana, Cuba. cineuro@neuro.sld.cu
B
B
Estupiñán
T
T
Cuestas
S
S
Salazar
C
C
Domínguez-Alvarez
A
A
Chong
L
L
Ochoa
G
G
López-Flores
I
I
García-Maeso
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018306:Neurocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D016708:Synaptophysin; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase