Spinal cord, Tanycytic giant-cell ependymoma [LMP85952]

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Image Details
Diagnostic Modality: 
Whole Slide Image
Disease Category: 
Neoplasia
Diagnosis: 
Tanycytic giant cell ependymoma
Species: 
Human
Organ System: 
Central Nervous System
Gender: 
Female
Age: 
30 years
Diagnosis Code: 
ICD-10: C72.0 | ICD-O: 9391/3
Slide Contributor Information
Gao, A., Munoz D.

Keywords

Spine, cauda equina, filum terminale, conus medullaris

Clinical History

30-year-old woman with chronic back pain. Neuroimaging shows a non-enhancing mass at the filum terminale.

Clinical Discussion

Ependymomas are generally slow-growing tumours of children and young adults and are composed of neoplastic ependymal cells; they are classified as WHO grade II. This unusual case combines histopathological features of two rare ependymoma variants: tanycytic and giant cell. Tanycytic ependymomas are usually found in the spinal cord with spindled, bipolar tumour cells arranged in fascicles and may be confused with pilocytic astrocytoma. Giant cell ependymoma is distinguished by the presence of giant cells. Both variants retain the usual ependymal immunophenotype (GFAP, S100, dot-like or luminal surface EMA positivity).

Related Content

Related External Links: 
Shintaku et al. Tanycytic ependymoma of the filum terminale with pleomorphic giant cells. Brain Tumor Pathol 2009;26:79-82...