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28 November 2012 - Case of the Week #259

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Thanks to Dr. Eman Abdelzaher, Alexandria University (Egypt), for contributing this case and the discussion. To contribute a Case of the Week, follow the guidelines on our Case of the Week page.


This month’s recommended article
by the Editors of Laboratory Investigation:

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Case of the Week #259

Clinical History:

A 45 year old woman had an MRI for headache, which showed a dural-based extra-axial lesion of the left parietal region, with dural enhancement, and surrounding grade II vasogenic edema. At surgery, the lesion was red and richly vascular. Gross total excision was performed.

Macroscopic examination: Multiple brownish soft tissue fragments (2.5 x 1 x 0.5 cm in aggregate) with a spongy appearance.

Micro images:




What is your diagnosis?































Diagnosis:

Microcystic Meningioma, WHO Grade I

Discussion:

The tumor was strongly immunoreactive for EMA:

The microscopic images reveal a loosely textured pattern created by intra- and intercellular microcystic spaces. Scattered cells with pleomorphic hyperchromatic nuclei are seen, as well as thickened blood vessels with hyalinized walls. Focal xanthomatous change is present.

Microcystic meningioma is a variant of meningioma characterized by cells with thin, elongate processes encompassing microcysts. Pleomorphic cells, xanthomatous change and thick-walled blood vessels are common. Accompanying cerebral edema and macrocysts may be seen. It has benign behavior and corresponds to WHO grade I, with no prognostic significance assigned.

Microcystic meningioma (especially in a pure form) frequently creates diagnostic problems because of the minimal morphological clues of its meningothelial nature. Recognition requires awareness of its existence. Meningioma should always be considered for supratentorial extra-axial enhancing lesions. Histological clues to diagnosis include a loosely textured pattern with microcysts, nuclear pleomorphism and thick-walled hyalinized blood vessels. EMA staining is confirmatory.

Differential diagnosis:

1) Pilocytic astrocytoma: young age, usually posterior fossa, intra-axial, biphasic pattern, Rosenthal fibers, eosinophilic granular bodies, GFAP+
2) Hemangioblastoma: rarely supratentorial, usually posterior fossa, rich reticulin network, EMA-, inhibin+
3) Metastatic carcinoma: anaplasia, mitosis, necrosis, CK+

In the case under discussion, the supratentorial extra-axial location, contrast enhancement, characteristic histopathological features and immunoreactivity for EMA were all in favor of microcystic meningioma. The tumor did not show atypical features and it was assigned to grade I.

References:

1) Louis DN, Ohgaki H, Wiestler OD, Cavenee WK, eds. WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system. 4th edition. Lyon: IARC Press, 2007.
2) Paek SH, Kim SH, Chang KH, Park CK, Kim JE, Kim DG, Park SH, Jung HW (2005). Microcystic meningiomas: radiological characteristics of 16 cases. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2005;147:965.

Nat Pernick, M.D., President
and Palak Thakore, Associate Medical Editor
PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
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Bingham Farms, Michigan (USA) 48025
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Email: NatPernick@Hotmail.com
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