Extraventricular neurocytomas are rare brain tumors that have a diverse range of clinical characteristics. We describe two cases involving fluorescence-guided resection of extraventricular neurocytoma using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and evaluate the efficacy of the technique. We found that the tumor reactions to 5-ALA differed depending on the histologic grade. This finding shows that the 5-ALA fluorescence reaction may potentially be used as a biomarker of the clinical behavior of these tumors. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which fluorescence-guided resection was utilized for the resection of extraventricular neurocytomas.
Brain Neoplasms ; Fluorescence* ; Neurocytoma*

Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Neurocytoma ; pathology

Authors report two cases of central neurocytoma with unusual surgical pitfall. The one of these presented with postoperative intraventricular hemorrhage with hydrocephalus. The other case developed motor aphasia and hemiplegia due to brain retration during operation. We describe peripoerative courses of these cases and discuss possible causes of postoperative complications.
Aphasia, Broca ; Brain ; Hemiplegia ; Hemorrhage ; Hydrocephalus ; Neurocytoma ; Postoperative Complications

Central neurocytoma is a rare, well-differentiated neuronal tumor and is usually located in the lateral or third ventricle of young adults. Its overall prognosis is excellent with a low proliferative index. The majority of previously reported malignant variants rarely did recurred after tumor removal and regarded as benign tumor despite of histopathological malignant feature. Nevertheless, we experienced a case of malignant variant of the central neurocytoma with high proliferative index(Ki-67 labeling index >30%), which showed recurrence immediately after surgery and died within 3 months POD. Here, we describe the case with a review of the literatures.
Humans ; Neurocytoma* ; Neurons ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Third Ventricle ; Young Adult

Adult ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; pathology ; Male ; Neurocytoma ; pathology

Extra ventricular neurocytoma (EVN) is a rare brain tumor with histologic features similar with a central neurocytoma, but located outside of the ventricular system. In this study, we present an unusual case of hypothalamic EVN in a 14-year-old patient. The patient underwent subtotal removal and had tumor relapse. The patient was then treated using intensity modulated radiation therapy, and the tumor remained stable for 24 months. This case report may be important in that this is the first pediatric case of EVN located in the hypothalamic region. EVN has similar radiologic features with pilocytic astrocytomas and therefore a hypothalamic EVN may be misdiagnosed as a hypothalamic glioma. Also, the pathologic-radiologic-clinical correlation of EVN located in the hypothalamic area may be different from that of EVNs originating from other usual sites.
Adolescent ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Glioma ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Neoplasms ; Neurocytoma* ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Recurrence

Extra ventricular neurocytoma (EVN) is a rare brain tumor with histologic features similar with a central neurocytoma, but located outside of the ventricular system. In this study, we present an unusual case of hypothalamic EVN in a 14-year-old patient. The patient underwent subtotal removal and had tumor relapse. The patient was then treated using intensity modulated radiation therapy, and the tumor remained stable for 24 months. This case report may be important in that this is the first pediatric case of EVN located in the hypothalamic region. EVN has similar radiologic features with pilocytic astrocytomas and therefore a hypothalamic EVN may be misdiagnosed as a hypothalamic glioma. Also, the pathologic-radiologic-clinical correlation of EVN located in the hypothalamic area may be different from that of EVNs originating from other usual sites.
Adolescent ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Glioma ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Neoplasms ; Neurocytoma* ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Recurrence

The authors report a case of atypical extraventricular neurocytoma (EVN) transformed from EVN which had been initially diagnosed as an oligodendroglioma 15 years ago. An 8-year-old boy underwent a surgical resection for a right frontal mass which was initially diagnosed as oligodendroglioma. When the tumor recurred 15 years later, a secondary operation was performed, followed by salvage gamma knife treatment. The recurrent tumor was diagnosed as an atypical EVN. The initial specimen was reviewed and immunohistochemistry revealed a strong positivity for synaptophysin. The diagnosis of the initial tumor was revised as an EVN. The patient maintained a stable disease state for 15 years after the first operation, and was followed up for one year without any complications or disease progression after the second operation. We diagnosed an atypical extraventricular neurocytoma transformed from EVN which had been initially diagnosed as an oligodendroglioma 15 years earlier. We emphasize that EVN should be included in the differential diagnosis of oligodendroglioma.
Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurocytoma ; Oligodendroglioma ; Recurrence ; Synaptophysin

Central neurocytoma, a cerebral intraventricular tumor, is usually benign. It frequently develops in the area of the foramen of Monro, and is usually attached to the septum pellucidum. Mild to moderate contrast enhancement is common. We encountered a case of central neurocytoma in a 60-year-old woman; the tumor arose from the atrium of the lateral ventricle, and extraventricular extension and malignant transformation were apparent. CT and MRI revealed a well-defined, slightly heterogeneous mass measuring 2.5x3x5cm with surrounding edema. There was strong contrast enhancement of the mass.
Cerebral Ventricles ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neurocytoma* ; Septum Pellucidum

Central neurocytoma is a rare, well-differentiated neuronal tumor and is usually located in the lateral or third ventricle of young adults. The occurrence of an intraventricular tumor with a characterisitic magnetic resonance image findings including isointense signal in T1-weighted images, the presence of a cystic component, small signal-void areas due to calcification, heterogenous and hyperintense "bubbly" appearance in T2-weighted images in a young patient should suggest preoperatively the diagnosis of central neurocytoma. The typical immunohistochemical finding, positivity for synaptophysin, is the main pathological feature. We experienced two cases of central neurocytomas with typical radiological and histopathological findings. We expect growth arrest of these cases by subtotal removal to avoid postoperative neurologic deficit followed by radiation therapy.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neurocytoma* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurons ; Synaptophysin ; Third Ventricle ; Young Adult