title: Lipoastrocytoma: Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Lipoastrocytoma is an extremely rare tumor, with only six cases described. We report the case of an astrocytoma involving the upper part of the cerebellar-pontine angle and the right portion of the clivus starting from the brainstem with a diffuse lipomatous component in a 39 year-old man. The patient was admitted with headache of 1 year's duration and diplopia over the previous 3 months. MRI revealed a ponto-cerebellar lesion that showed irregular enhancement after contrast administration. Subtotal excision of the tumor was accomplished. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy were not administered. Histologically the tumor showed the classical histology of low-grade astrocytoma and a portion of the lesion was composed of lipid-laden cells. Immunohistochemistry for glial fibrillary acid and S-100 proteins clearly demonstrated the glial nature of these cells. Ki-67/Mib-1 labeling index was low (2%). The patient remains in good neurological conditions after 10 months. Our case has a benign postoperative behavior, also after subtotal excision, with restrictions due to the short follow-up. It is important to record each new case of this rare tumor to produce a better characterization of this lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara Francesca
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Gheri
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buccoliero
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gastone
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pansini
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garbini
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moncini
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maccari
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mennonna
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellicanò
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ammannati
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Taddei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008068:Lipomatosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male