Fausto J Rodriguez

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..Although rare, ependymal neoplasms must be included among the gliomas prone to undergo sarcomatous change and we propose the term "ependymosarcoma" for these tumors...

..5 to 5.5 years after first resection. These results suggest that 1p19q loss and t(1;19) occur in a subset of EVN, and may be associated with aggressive histology in these tumors...

..Diagnostic uses of this marker may be limited to specific settings, including some meningioma subtypes and nerve sheath tumors...

..Glioblastomas exhibit a remarkable tendency toward morphologic diversity. Although rare, pseudoepithelial components (adenoid or epithelioid) or true epithelial differentiation may occur, posing a significant diagnostic challenge...

..This report demonstrates that ectopic adrenocortical tumors in the nervous system may exhibit clinicopathologic and cytogenetic features suggestive of adrenocortical carcinoma...

..Classic PA and LGSI are the most common, and most have favorable prognoses. By contrast, DAs are more aggressive, similar to those that arise sporadically...

..In summary, we have identified a molecular signature that distinguishes NF1-PA from S-PA and found that ALDH1L1 underexpression is associated with aggressive histology and/or biologic behavior...

..The unique combination of an ependymoma with marked reactive gliosis and a calcifying pseudoneoplasm supports the reactive nature of the latter...

..LC-MS/MS represents a novel application for characterization of these deposits and is of diagnostic utility in addition to standard immunohistochemical analyses...

..In summary, PA with anaplastic features exhibits a spectrum of morphologies and is associated with decreased survival when compared with typical PA...

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..De novo malignancy in odontogenic tumors of the sella is even more unusual, but also has an ominous prognosis...

..METHODS AND MATErials: The data from 45 patients with central neurocytomas diagnosed between 1971 and 2003 were retrospectively evaluated. Various combinations of surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy had been used for treatment...

..5 months after primary diagnosis. Oligodendroglial tumors with prominent desmoplasia are rare. Most cases demonstrate 1p19q codeletion and IDH1 mutations, and behave as expected for anaplastic oligodendroglial tumors...

..The clinical significance of these observations is unknown but deserves further exploration...

..Histopathologic evaluation of the degree and extent of anaplasia is a useful prognostic parameter in pediatric medulloblastomas. Whether the same applies to adult medulloblastomas is not known...

..Malignant cranial nerve sheath tumors are rare and are associated with the same poor prognosis as those of spinal nerves at other sites...

..Intracranial dura should be added to various sites at which this morphologically heterogenous tumor may arise...

..In summary, activation of the PI3K/AKT in addition to MAPK/ERK signaling pathways may underlie biological aggressiveness in PA. Specifically, it may mediate the increased proliferative activity observed in histologically anaplastic PA...

..This study underscores some of the difficulties in applying immunohistochemistry to assess MGMT expression...

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..This unusual finding suggests that the spectrum of granular cell change should be expanded to include tumors with primarily neuronal differentiation...

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..An uneventful postoperative recovery was noted in both patients. Glomus tumors and glomangiomas can involve major nerves on rare occasions. They seem to follow a favorable clinical course, and conservative resection can be of benefit...

..Recognition of this entity by surgical pathologists is important, leading to the correct identification of a non-neoplastic lesion as well as of a surgically treatable disease...

..The presence of coexisting hematologic abnormalities should prompt consideration of a bone marrow biopsy. Early diagnosis may direct therapy and lead to a more favorable prognosis...

..The use of minimal diagnostic criteria, e.g., immunoreactivity for a single antigen like neurofilament protein, may not be sufficient and should be discouraged...

..Together, these results indicate that SB-insertional mutagenesis can identify high-grade astrocytoma-associated genes and they imply an important role for CSF1 in the development of these tumors...

..Smooth muscle should be added to the spectrum of differentiation exhibited by malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Its recognition requires exclusion of the alternative diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma...

..They differ pathologically from pulmonary cartilaginous hamartomas on the basis of the presence of a thin fibrous pseudocapsule, frequent bone metaplasia, and calcification, and also the absence of entrapped epithelium and fat...

..The significance of the genetic alterations we describe associated with sarcomatoid change in ependymal neoplasms, and ultimately their prognostic relevance, merits further study...