[Central neurocytoma. A report of 4 cases]

We report 4 cases of central neurocytoma removed by a transfrontal approach with no recurrence after a mean follow up of 3 years. This uncommon lesion of the supratentorial ventricles (150 cases reported) occurs in young adults, and often induces intracranial hypertension secondary to an obstructive hydrocephalus. The CT scan, MRI and histopathological features are related. This neuronal origin tumor is difficult to distinguish from other intraventricular processes as oligodendroglioma or ependymoma. However, the immunopositivity for the neuronal markers as synaptophysin, calcineurin and microtubul associated protein 2, and the negativity for the glial fibrillary acidic protein, allow the diagnosis of this neuropathological entity. The prognosis is favorable though some cases of recurrence (14 cases) and cerebrospinal dissemination (2 cases) has been reported in the literature.