FrontalCortex, Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to neurology education.

Adult Brain Tumor Pathology 01

Topic: Pathology

Created on Wednesday, February 4 2009 by jdmiles

Last modified on Wednesday, February 4 2009.


Courtesy of Dr. Mark Cohen
A 55 year old woman presents with slowly worsening headaches over 12 months. Imaging of the head reveals a mass lesion. The lesion is surgically resected, and an H&E preparation of the tumor is shown in the image above.
What kind of tumor is this?

 
        A) Pilocytic astrocytoma
 
        B) Glioblastoma multiforme
 
        C) Oligodendroglioma
 
        D) Meningioma
 
        E) Medulloblastoma
 

 


Back to the question = Go back to the top of the page.
See another question like this one = Reload a different version of this question ().
Click here for a random question = Load a random question from the database.
Clone this question = Use this question as a template to create a totally NEW question.
Rate this question = Enter detailed rating for this question!
Average user rating for this question = 5 = How users like you have rated this question.
This question was created on February 04, 2009 by jdmiles.
This question was last modified on February 04, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS




A) pilocytic astrocytoma

This answer is incorrect.


The whorls of cells seen in the pathology from our patient (in the image at the top of this page) are more characteristic of a meningioma than a pilocytic astrocytoma.
Pilocytic astrocytomas are the most common glioma in children, but account for 2% of all primary CNS tumors in all age groups. Pilocytic astrocytomas look more characteristically like the image below:

Courtesy of Dr. Mark Cohen
  (See References)

Back to the questionSee another question like this oneClick here for a random questionClone this question Rate this questionAverage user rating for this question = 5
Please log in if you want to rate questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




B) glioblastoma multiforme

This answer is incorrect.


The whorls of cells seen in the pathology from our patient (in the image at the top of this page) are more characteristic of a meningioma than a glioblastoma. Glioblastomas tend to appear more disorganized. They are rapidly-growing tumors which often have areas of necrosis, as shown in the image below (the unnecessarily large green arrow points to the necrotic region):
  (See References)

Back to the questionSee another question like this oneClick here for a random questionClone this question Rate this questionAverage user rating for this question = 5
Please log in if you want to rate questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




C) oligodendroglioma

This answer is incorrect.


The whorls of cells seen in the pathology from our patient (in the image at the top of this page) are more characteristic of a meningioma than a an oligodendroglioma.
Oligodendrogliomas have a characteristic appearance, with cells that look like a bunch of "fried eggs." An oligodendroglioma is shown in the image below:

Courtesy of Dr. Mark Cohen
  (See References)

Back to the questionSee another question like this oneClick here for a random questionClone this question Rate this questionAverage user rating for this question = 5
Please log in if you want to rate questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




D) meningioma

This answer is correct.


Meningiomas are relatively common non-glial tumors. They are characterized by whorls of meningioepithelial cells, and these whorls are evident in the image shown. Most are curable by total resection.   (See References)

Back to the questionSee another question like this oneClick here for a random questionClone this question Rate this questionAverage user rating for this question = 5
Please log in if you want to rate questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




E) medulloblastoma

This answer is incorrect.


The whorls of cells seen in the pathology from our patient (in the image at the top of this page) are more characteristic of a meningioma than a medulloblastoma.
The vast majority of medulloblastomas occur in children. The appearance of medulloblastomas is one of small, blue cells, as shown below:

Courtesy of Dr. Mark Cohen
  (See References)

Back to the questionSee another question like this oneClick here for a random questionClone this question Rate this questionAverage user rating for this question = 5
Please log in if you want to rate questions.

 

 

 

 

References:

1. Prayson, R.A., and Goldblum, J.R. (Eds.) (2005). Neuropathology. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia. (ISBN:0443066582) Advertising:
Back to the questionSee another question like this oneClick here for a random questionClone this question Rate this questionAverage user rating for this question = 5
Please log in if you want to rate questions.

 

FrontalCortex.com -- Neurology Review Questions -- Neurology Boards -- Board Review -- Residency Inservice Training Exam -- RITE Exam Review
pathology
Adult Brain Tumor Pathology 01
Question ID: 020409046
Question written by J. Douglas Miles, (C) 2006-2009, all rights reserved.
Created: 02/04/2009
Modified: 02/04/2009
Estimated Permutations: 120

User Comments About This Question:

0 user entries
Please log in if you'd like to add a comment.