Lipidized mature neuroectodermal tumour of the cerebellum with myoid differentiation

We describe a case of a lipidized cerebellar tumour in a 67-year-old woman with immunocytochemical evidence of neurocytic, astrocytic, and in addition, striated muscle cell differentiation. A review of the literature on lipidized cerebellar tumours shows that they present in adults (mean age 58.8 years); they tend to occur in the hemispheric or paramedian regions of the cerebellum and are hypodense on CT scan and MRI. Histologically they are well differentiated and share some common features, such as extensive lipidization, low mitotic rate and an absence of pleomorphism, necrosis and capillary endothelial proliferation. The present case emphasizes the occurrence of astrocytic and striated muscle cell components in these tumours. Although the number of reported cases is limited they appear to have a better prognosis than the conventional form of adult medulloblastoma. It seems therefore that the term lipidized mature neuroectodermal tumour, rather than lipidized medulloblastoma, would be a more appropriate term for these tumours.