Cartilage differentiation in ependymoma: histogenetic considerations on a new case.
The presence of cartilage in gliomas is a very unusual finding and has been mainly reported in ependymomas and in astrocytomas. A derivation of cartilage from neuroepithelial cells through a neuroepithelial-mesenchymal transition or directly from blood vessel-associated multipotent stromal elements has been proposed. We herein describe a further case of ependymoma with the presence of cartilage in a child affected by a tumor in the posterior fossa. In this case, only the last recurrence, characterized by focal areas of anaplasia, contained a nodule of cartilage. The immunohistochemical expression of fibronectin, tenascin-C, and CD44 was investigated, and the possible role of these molecules in the process of cartilage formation is discussed. Moreover, the literature on the subject is reviewed.
Department of Anatomic Pathology, Catholic University, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy, antonella.coli@rm.unicatt.it.
Antonella
A
Coli
Mariangela
M
Novello
Luca
L
Massimi
Massimo
M
Caldarelli
Valentina
V
Ranucci
Libero
L
Lauriola
D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*