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Ependymomas with neuronal differentiation: a morphologic and immunohistochemical spectrum.
Fausto J Rodriguez1, Bernd W Scheithauer, Peter D Robbins
1Department of Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Acta Neuropathologica
|October 25, 2006
Summary
Neuronal differentiation is observed in ependymomas, though definitive evidence is often limited to immunohistochemistry rather than histology or ultrastructure. Further research is needed to understand the clinical significance of these findings.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Pathology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The classification of mixed glioneuronal tumors is evolving.
- Ependymomas are glial tumors that can exhibit neuronal differentiation.
Observation:
- Five ependymomas displayed varying degrees of neuronal differentiation.
- Histology confirmed neuronal differentiation in two cases, immunohistochemistry in two, and electron microscopy in one.
- Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were used to detect neuronal markers and ultrastructural features.
Findings:
- Two anaplastic ependymomas showed distinct neuropil or pale islands with neuronal markers (synaptophysin, Neu-N, chromogranin).
- Seven additional ependymomas showed suggestive neuronal differentiation via immunohistochemistry for Neu-N, synaptophysin, neurofilament protein, and chromogranin.
- Neuronal differentiation in ependymomas is more commonly an immunohistochemical finding than a definitive histological or ultrastructural one.
Implications:
- Neuronal differentiation in ependymomas is a recognized phenomenon.
- The clinical significance of neuronal differentiation in ependymomas remains unknown and requires further investigation.
