Abstract
Central neurocytoma (CNC) is an uncommon benign tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) occurring in adults and is more likely to be located in the region of the foramina of Monra. Few studies have described the neuroradiological features of CNC, and most are single case reports. Our aim was to analyze the clinicopathological and neuroradiological characteristics of CNC. We retrospectively studied the preoperative CT (n=2) and MRI (n=5) of three men and two women (mean age 45 years, ranging from 30 to 63 years) with pathologically proven CNC. The tumors were primarily located in the region of the foramina of Monra. Two of them occupied the lateral ventricle, appearing to be attached to the septum pellucidum, and the other three tumors arose from the septum pellucidum and extended into the lateral ventricles. The tumors were of mixed density with cystic features and patchy or fine calcification on noncontrast CT scans, and they were of low or isointense signal on T1- and heterogeneously hyperintense signal on T2- and FLAIR weighted images. Contrast enhancement varied greatly from very slight to intense. Immunohistochemical staining showed a positive reaction for synaptophysin (Syn), neuro-specific enclase (NSE), neurofilament protein (NF) in the tumor cells and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) in the fibrillar zones. CNC should be taken into consideration first if a tumor arises from the region of the foramina of Monra with CNC neuroradiological characteristics and the patient is an adult.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hsu PW, Hsleh TC, Chang CN, Lin TK (2002) Fourth ventricle central neurocytoma: case report. Neurosurgery 50:1365–1367
Kubota T, Hayashi M, Kawano H et al (1991) Central neurocytoma: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 81:418–427
Yuen ST, Fung CF, Ng TH, Leung SY (1992) Central neurocytoma: its differentiation form intraventricular oligodendroglioma. Childs Nerv Syst 8:383–388
Howard Lee S, Krishna CVG, Zimmerman RA et al (2000) Cranial MRI and CT, 4th edn. Xi‘an World Publishing Corporation/McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 327–328
Hassoun J, Gambarelli D, Grisoli F et al (1982) Central neurocytoma: an electron-microscopic study of two cases. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 56:151–156
Vinikoff L, Yettou H, Fomekong E et al (1999) Central neurocytoma: a report of four cases. Neurochirurgie 45:39–44
Li N, Zhou X, Meng K et al (2002) A clinicopathological and prognostic study of 22 cases central neurocytoma. Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi 31:12–15
Metellus JR, Allleiz F, Dodero et al (2000) Central neurocytoma: two cases and review of the literature. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 142:1417–1422
Hassoun J, Soylemezoglu F, Gambarelli D et al (1993) Central neurocytoma: a synopsis of clinical and histological features. Brain Pathol 3:297–306
Barbosa MD, Balsitis M, Jaspan T et al (1990) Intraventricular neurocytoma: a clinical and pathological study of three cases and review of the literature. Neurosurgery 26:1045–1054
Nishio S, Tashima T, Takeshita I et al (1998) Intravertricular neurocytoma: clinicopathological features of six cases. J Neurosurg 68:665–670
Tamiya T, Furuta T, Asari S et al (1990) Central neurocytoma: case report. Neuro Med Chir 30:178–183
Townsend JJ, Seaman JP (1986) Central neurocytoma—a rare benign intraventricular tumor. Acta Neuropathol 71:167–170
Kim DG, Chi JG, Park SH et al (1992) Intraventricular neurocytoma clinicopathological analysis of seven cases. J Neurosurg 76:759–765
Valdueza JM, Westphal M, Vortmeyer A et al (1996) Central neurocytoma: clinical, immunohistologic and biologic findings of a human neuroglial progenitor tumor. Surg Neurol 45:49–56
Von Deimling A, Kleihues P, Saremaslani P et al (1991) Histogenesis and defferentiation potential of central neurocytomas. Lab Invest 64:585–591
Majos C, Coll S, Pons LC (1997) Central neurocytoma arising in the third ventricle. Neuroradiology 39:270–272
Goergen SK, Goonzales MF, Melean (1992) Intraventricular neurocytoma: radiologic features and review of the literature. Radiology 182:787–792
Chang KH, Han MH, Kim DG et al (1993) MR appearance of central neurocytoma. Acta Radiol 34:520–526
Wichmann W, Schubiger O, Deimling A et al (1991) Neuroradiology of central neurocytoma. Neuroradiology 33:143–148
Yasargil MG, Von Ammon K, Von Deimling A et al (1992) Central neurocytoma: histopathological variants and therapeutic approaches. J Neurosurg 7:32–37
Barkovich, James A (2000) Pediatric neuroimaging, 3rd edn. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 535–536
Beems T, Grotenhuis JA (2001) Subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma in tuberous sclerosis: endoscopic images and the implications for therapy. Minim Invasive Neurosurg 44:58–60
Shepherd CW, Scheithauer BW, Gomez MR et al (1991) Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma: a clinical, pathological, and flow cytometric study. Neurosurgery 28:864–868
Gupta V, Singh D, Sinha S et al (2001) An oligo astrocytoma with widespread calcification along axonal fibres. Neurol India 49:174–177
Walker DG, Kaye AH (2001) Diagnosis and management of astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and mixed gliomas: a review. Australas Radiol 45:472–482
Muzumdar DP, Goel A, Pakhmode CK (2003) Oligodendroglioma causing calvarial erosion. Neurol India 51:129–130
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, B., Luo, B., Zhang, Z. et al. Central neurocytoma: a clinicopathological and neuroradiological study. Neuroradiology 46, 888–895 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-004-1289-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-004-1289-9