Chordoid meningioma: rare variant of meningioma

Ozlem Ozen1, Aylin Sar, Başar Atalay

  • 1Department of Pathology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. ozlemo@baskent-ank.edu.tr

Insights

Chordoid meningioma, a rare brain tumor variant, mimics chordoma histologically and has a higher recurrence risk. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment and distinguishing it from other neoplasms.

Area of Science:

  • Neuropathology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Chordoid meningioma is a rare meningioma subtype.
  • It histologically resembles chordoma, posing diagnostic challenges.
  • Distinguishing it from other neoplasms is vital due to differing prognoses and therapies.

Observation:

  • A case report details a 48-year-old woman with a left frontoparietal mass and chronic headaches.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an expansive lytic lesion in the left temporal bone.
  • Histological examination showed cords and nests of eosinophilic vacuolated cells in a myxoid matrix.

Findings:

  • Focal areas exhibited a typical meningiomatous pattern.
  • Tumor cells stained positive for vimentin and epithelial membrane antigen.
  • These findings confirmed the diagnosis of chordoid meningioma.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of recognizing chordoid meningioma's distinct features.
  • Emphasizes the need for accurate histological differentiation from chordoma.
  • Informs therapeutic strategies and prognosis assessment for this rare tumor variant.

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