[Clinicopathology of gangliogliomas]

Gangliogliomas are relatively rare tumors of the CNS in which ganglion cells and neuroglia coexist. 13 cases are reported, representing 0.61% of a series of 2,121 patients undergoing biopsy for CNS tumors. The clinical, radiological, pathological, electron microscopical and immunohistochemical features were evaluated with clinical follow-up. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 51 years, including 8 males and 5 females. Duration of symptoms prior to surgery varied from 15 days to 12 years, the most common symptoms being seizures, headache, vomiting and motor disturbances. Computed tomographic scans found high density space-occupying mass in 6 patients and low density space-occupying mass in 3. Ten of the tumors originated form the cerebral hemispheres and three from the midline. The tumors were all sharply delineated and well defined from surrounding tissues. The tumor is generally firm. 8 patients are survived operation for 2-10 years. Neurons and glial cells in the tumor could be demonstrated by electron microscopy and immunohistochemical examination. Anaplastic transformation in the gliomatous component was found in one case. This series suggest that surgical removal of this neoplasm carries a good prognosis.