title: Ependymoma with neuropil-like islands: a case report with diagnostic and histogenetic implications.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gessi
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marani
authors.forename: Jennian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arcella
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cenacchi
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giangaspero
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019581:Neuropil / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C489788:MAP2 protein, human; C440408:MIB-1 antibody; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D018396:Mucin-1; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D016708:Synaptophysin