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Diffuse astrocytoma NOS

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Patient Data

Age: Adult
  • Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.
mri

There is a region of increased T2 signal with positive mass effect involving the superior frontal gyrus. A faint region of contrast enhancement is present. 

Case Discussion

Features are consistent with a diffuse low-grade glioma. Only faint enhancement and absence of evidence of necrosis/hemorrhage argues against a higher grade lesion (i.e unlikely to be a GBM). 

Histology

Paraffin sections show fragments of white matter. These show a moderate increase in the numbers of astrocytic cells and prominent perineuronal and perivascular secondary structuring. Astrocytic cells show a mild degree of nuclear atypia and there is clustering of cells in many areas. No mitotic figures are seen and there is no vascular endothelial cell proliferation and no necrosis. A minority of atypical astrocytic cells show strong nuclear staining for Ki-67/MIB-1 (proliferation index approx. 5%). The features are of diffuse fibrillary astrocytoma.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS: diffuse (fibrillary) astrocytoma

Note: IDH mutation status is not provided in this case and according to the current (2016) WHO classification of CNS tumors, this tumor would, therefore, be designated as a diffuse astrocytoma NOS

 

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