[Central neurocytoma. Four patients]

We report four cases of central neurocytoma we operated on at our institution, between 1994 and 2002. This uncommon lesion occurred in young patients, was located in the lateral ventricules and was revealed by signs of intracranial hypertension. The tumor was totally removed in three cases and subtotally in one. Immunohistochemistry provided useful information to distinguish neurocytoma from other nervous system tumors. Prognosis was excellent in two patients. One patient developed tumor recurrence seven years after surgery, without any progression on further follow up evaluation. In the last patient, the tumor showed a more aggressive progression requiring the adjunction of radiosurgery.