1/3. Positive reaction for cysticercosis and multicentric anaplastic oligoastrocytoma.INTRODUCTION: An unusual case of positive immunological testing for cysticercosis in the cystic fluid obtained from an anaplastic oligoastrocytoma is presented. CASE REPORT: A 15-year-old boy was admitted with multiple brain lesions. The biggest was a cyst with a mural node and neurocysticercosis was suspected. In order to relieve intracranial pressure, the cyst was punctured and the immunological testing for cysticercosis was positive, reinforcing the clinical suspicion and leading to a clinical trial with albendazole and steroids. As the patient deteriorated the cystic lesion was removed and the diagnosis of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma was established. A second lesion was eventually approached and the histopathological diagnosis of both specimens concurred. DISCUSSION: Although some authors believe that chronic inflammatory changes following neurocysticercosis could induce the formation of brain tumors, this association may be a mere coincidence. In our case no clinical evidence of a prior infestation by cysticercus was found. In fact, an exhaustive examination of the specimens did not reveal any areas of inflammatory reaction. We believe that the similarity of the glioma and cysticercosis antigens may be the cause of the positive reactions in the cystic fluid.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Primary disseminated leptomeningeal oligodendroglioma with 1p deletion. Case report.The authors report the case of a 2-year-old boy with a primary, diffuse leptomeningeal oligodendroglioma in which the deletion of chromosome arm lp was identified by performing a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. This previously healthy child initially presented with malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and macrocephaly. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of hydrocephalus, and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. The postoperative course was complicated by emesis, continued weight loss, and numerous seizurelike episodes. A contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging study performed approximately 10 weeks postoperatively showed diffuse leptomeningeal thickening and enhancement without evidence of an intraparenchymal mass lesion. A right frontal lobe brain biopsy revealed a hypercellular proliferation of small oligodendroglioma-like cells, which occupied the leptomeninges diffusely and spared the underlying cortical gray matter. The tumor cells displayed prominent perinuclear clearing and had evenly spaced, uniformly round nuclei. Occasional mitotic figures were observed. Background vessels were thin and delicate, and there was no evidence of necrosis. The tumor cells showed strong immunoreactivity for S100 protein; the results of immunohistochemical staining were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, NeuN, and synaptophysin. The deletion of lp was demonstrated by FISH analysis; lq, 19p, and 19q were intact. This appears to be the first reported case of a primary diffuse leptomeningeal oligodendroglioma in which a lp deletion was identified.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. Detection of jc virus dna sequence and expression of the viral oncoprotein, tumor antigen, in brain of immunocompetent patient with oligoastrocytoma.We describe molecular and clinical findings in an immunocompetent patient with an oligoastrocytoma and the concomitant presence of the human papovavirus, jc virus (JCV), which is the etiologic agent of the subacute, debilitating demyelinating disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Histologic review revealed a glial neoplasm consisting primarily of a moderately cellular oligodendroglioma with distinct areas of a fibrillary astrocytoma. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed nuclear staining of tumor cells with antibodies against the viral oncoprotein [tumor antigen (T antigen)], the proliferation marker (Ki67), and the cellular proliferation regulator (p53). Using primers specific to the JCV control region, PCR yielded amplified dna that was identical to the control region of the Mad-4 strain of the virus. PCR analysis demonstrated the presence of the genome for the viral oncoprotein, T antigen, and results from primer extension studies revealed synthesis of the viral early rna for T antigen in the tumor tissues. The presence of viral T antigen in the tumor tissue was further demonstrated by immunoblot assay. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of JCV dna, rna, and T antigen in tissue in which viral T antigen is localized to tumor cell nuclei and suggests the possible association of JCV with some glial neoplasms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 11keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |