Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma associated with tuberous sclerosis: with special reference to cell kinetic...

The authors report a case of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma associated with tuberous sclerosis in a 15-year-old boy. Computed tomographic scans showed a large intraventricular mass with peritumoral calcification and a cyst in the left lateral ventricle. Left dominant unilateral hydrocephalus was also revealed. Magnetic resonance images clearly demonstrated the lesion. The tumor was subtotally removed and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed because of the hydrocephalus. The proliferation potential was assessed by measuring the bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) labeling index employing the in vitro labeling method, and determining the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content by flowcytometry. BUdR-positive cells were found to be rare, and the DNA histogram demonstrated no evidence of high proliferative activity or aneuploidy.