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Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma

Case contributed by Bruno Di Muzio
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

First seizure.

Patient Data

Age: 21-year-old

CT Brain

ct

Ventricular size and sulcal pattern within normal limits. No intra or extra-axial hemorrhage identified. There is a tiny hypoattenuating nodule in the right temporal lobe, at the region of the Heschl's gyrus. Grey-white matter differentiation is preserved with no midline shift. The posterior fossa has a normal appearance. Visualized paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells are clear.

MRI Brain

mri

Small cystic foci measuring 4 and 2 mm respectively are seen involving cortex and subcortical region of the right Heschl's gyrus. These areas do not fully FLAIR suppress. On the FLAIR sequence, there is a poor definition of the adjacent grey matter with mild regional FLAIR hyperintensity. Mild mass effect. Several punctate foci of FLAIR hyperintensity in the supratentorial white matter are non-specific, but borderline prominent for age. History of migraines? No other focal lesion is identified. 

MRI Brain (4 months later)

mri

On this study, a single cystic lesion is noted. The second lesion is probably present but not clearly seen as it is smaller than the 5 mm thick slices. High-resolution thinner slices are performed on the post contrast imaging which demonstrates an area of increased enhancement at Heschl's gyrus with mild probable ring enhancement of the cystic lesion. No other definite abnormal contrast enhancement is seen. The ventricles and CSF spaces are within normal limits. No other focal lesions are present. No blood degradation products or diffusion restriction is apparent. 

pathology

MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION: 1-2. Sections show fragments of a hypercellular tumor composed of cells demonstrating moderate nuclear pleomorphism. Focally tumor cells show an elongate, plump spindle cell morphology with a fascicular arrangement. Large pleomorphic tumor cells with foamy cytoplasm and multinucleated floret cells are present. Eosinophilic granular bodies and aggregates of perivascular lymphocytes are identified. No neuronal tumor cell component is seen. Occasional mitotic figures are identified (up to 3 per 50hpf). No microvascular proliferation or pallisaded tumor necrosis are seen.

Immunohistochemistry results show tumor cells stain:

  • GFAP Positive
  • Nestin Positive
  • NogoA Negative
  • IDH-1 R132H Negative (not mutated)
  • ATRX Positive (not mutated)
  • MGMT Positive (likely not methylated)
  • p53 Positive
  • p16 CDKN2A Positive
  • B-tubulin Positive
  • Topoisomerase labeling index: Approximately 8%. 

DIAGNOSIS: 1-2. Brain tissue: Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma (WHO Grade II).

Case Discussion

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (PXA) are a type of rare, low-grade astrocytoma (WHO Grade II) found in young patients who typically present with temporal lobe epilepsy, as in this case. 

They are commonly characterized as cortical tumors with a cystic component and vivid contrast enhancement. Differentials would include ganglioglioma (can look very similar) and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNET).

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