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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
06:29
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
A 32-year-old man with a fourth ventricular mass.
Fang-Yi Lee1, Yee-Jee Jan, Mei-Chin Wen
1Department of Pathology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Brain Pathology (Zurich, Switzerland)
|March 18, 2009
Summary
This study reports a rare lipoastrocytoma case in a 32-year-old man, characterized by signet-ring cells containing lipid droplets. Findings suggest a potentially better prognosis for this low-grade astrocytoma variant.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Pathology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Lipoastrocytomas are exceptionally rare glial tumors, with only four prior cases documented in medical literature.
- This report details a novel case occurring within the fourth ventricle, a location not previously associated with this tumor type.
Observation:
- The tumor exhibited characteristic signet-ring cells, frequent eosinophilic granular bodies, and focal perivascular arrangements.
- Immunohistochemistry revealed strong GFAP and S-100 protein expression in vacuolated tumor cells.
- Ultrastructural analysis confirmed the presence of lipid droplets and intermediate filaments within the signet-ring cells, differentiating them from ependymoma features.
Findings:
- The study confirms that the observed vacuoles represent lipid droplets within astrocytic tumor cells, establishing the diagnosis of lipoastrocytoma.
- A low proliferation index (<10%) was noted, further supporting a low-grade classification.
- Absence of ultrastructural features typical of ependymomas aids in differential diagnosis.
Implications:
- This case expands the known clinical spectrum and anatomical locations of lipoastrocytomas.
- The confirmed lipid droplet content in astrocytic cells provides crucial diagnostic information.
- Observed features suggest a favorable prognosis, potentially guiding future treatment strategies for this rare low-grade astrocytoma variant.
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