Brain, ependymoma [LMP57037]

LMP57037 Thumbnail
View the Zoomify Image
Image Details
Diagnostic Modality: 
Whole Slide Image
Disease Category: 
Neoplasia
Diagnosis: 
Ependymoma
Species: 
Human
Organ System: 
Central Nervous System
Gender: 
Female
Age: 
56 years
Diagnosis Code: 
ICD-10: C71.7 | ICD-O: 9391/3
Slide Contributor Information
Gao, A., Kiehl, TR.

Keywords

ependyma, brain tumour, CNS

Clinical History

56-year-old woman with a mass in the IVth ventricle.

Clinical Discussion

Ependymomas are tumours with ependymal differentiation and are classified as WHO grade II. Both children and adults are affected, although infratentorial ependymomas are more common in children. Ependymomas may arise anywhere in the CNS, but typically within the ventricles. Microscopically, ependymomas show architectural features of perivascular pseudorosettes and occasionally true ependymal rosettes (with an empty central lumen); nuclei are generally monomorphic with stippled chromatin. Tumour cells are immunoreactive for GFAP and EMA (in a dot-like pattern or along the luminal surface of a rosette). Prognosis of ependymomas is variable and does not correspond well to traditional histologic grading. A molecular classification of ependymomas has been proposed that divides ependymomas among 3 compartments (supratentorial, infratentorial, spinal) with 3 molecular subgroups each; this system seems to correspond better to biologic behaviour (see reference in Related Content).

Related Content

Related External Links: 
Pajtler et al. Molecular classification of ependymal tumors across all CNS compartments, histopathological grades, and age ...