[Central neurocytoma--report of a case]

The authors present a case of central neurocytoma in a 23-year-old male with increased intracranial pressure syndrome. Computed tomographic (CT) scans and magnetic resonance images showed a large tumor mass with no evidence of calcification in the right lateral ventricle extending towards the third ventricle. A right transcortical-transventricular approach was performed and the tumor was totally removed. The postoperative course was uneventful and no further treatment was administered. CT shows no evidence of tumor recurrence after the six months from his surgery. Light microscopic findings suggested a diagnosis of oligodendroglioma. However, ultrastructural examinations demonstrated many dense-core or clear vesicles, microtubules and synaptic like structures within the abundant cytoplasmic processes of the tumor cells which suggested neuronal differentiation. Immunohistochemical examinations showed the tumor cells to be positive for neuron-specific enolase, sporadically positive for synaptophysin, and negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein. The final histological diagnosis was central neurocytoma. Central neurocytoma was first described by Hassoun et al, in 1982. Since then, 96 cases have been reported in the literatures. Their clinicopathological features, neuroradiological findings and prognosis are discussed.