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Granular cells in oligodendroglioma suggest a neoplastic change rather than a reactive phenomenon: case report with molecular characterisation

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Abstract

Oligodendrogliomas are diffuse gliomas characterised by IDH mutation and 1p/19q co-deletion. Classical oligodendrocytes, minigemistocytes, gliofibrillary oligodendrocytes, granular cells, and mucocytes are morphologic cell types described in oligodendroglioma. Even though the occurrence of granular cells in oligodendroglioma is known, exact nature of these cells and their molecular characteristics remain undetermined. We describe a case of oligodendroglioma with granular cells, in which we have attempted to molecularly characterise the granular cells. These granules were stained blue on Luxol fast blue and red on Masson’s trichrome. The cells showed a distinct pattern of immunoreactivity to GFAP and IDH1. In addition, they exhibited mitotic activity and increased Ki-67 labelling. Molecularly, both the granular cells and classical oligodendroglial cells in the tumor showed 1p/19q co-deletion which is the diagnostic hallmark of an oligodendroglioma. Thus, we opine that granular cells are neoplastic and represent a morphological variant of neoplastic oligodendrocyte.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of Mr. M. R. Chandrashekar and Mr. Manjunath K, in microphotography, Department of Neuropathology, NIMHANS, Bangalore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560 029, India

    Shilpa Rao, Chitra Chandran & Vani Santosh

  2. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560 029, India

    Palavalasa Sravya

  3. Department of Neuroimaging and Intervention Radiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560 029, India

    Jitender Saini

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560 029, India

    Sampath Somanna

Authors
  1. Shilpa Rao
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  2. Palavalasa Sravya
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  3. Chitra Chandran
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  4. Jitender Saini
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  5. Sampath Somanna
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  6. Vani Santosh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vani Santosh.

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The study has been approved by the ethics committee (NIMHANS IEC 9.01) and the patient has given informed consent prior to inclusion in the study.

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Rao, S., Sravya, P., Chandran, C. et al. Granular cells in oligodendroglioma suggest a neoplastic change rather than a reactive phenomenon: case report with molecular characterisation. Brain Tumor Pathol 34, 42–47 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10014-016-0273-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10014-016-0273-5

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