Lipoastrocytoma: Case report and review of the literature.
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.
Gheri
Chiara Francesca
CF
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Buccoliero
Anna Maria
AM
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Pansini
Gastone
G
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Castiglione
Francesca
F
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Garbini
Francesca
F
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Moncini
Daniela
D
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Maccari
Cecilia
C
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Mennonna
Pasquale
P
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Pellicanò
Gianni
G
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Ammannati
Franco
F
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Taddei
Gian Luigi
GL
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence,Units of Neurosurgery andNeuroradiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
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