Abstract
Immunohistochemical and molecular biologic techniques have done much to advance our understanding of many CNS and non-CNS tumors. Unfortunately, there is no reliable immunohistochemical stain for neoplastic oligodendroglial cells, and recent advances in the molecular biology of these tumors have not yet been parlayed into the diagnostic armementarium of practicing pathologists. Therefore, the oligodendroglioma currently remains a tumor whose diagnosis is based entirely on the “good old H&E.” In addition, we have been provided with a variety of look-alikes serving to constantly challenge, and more than occasionally, humble us. While some of these rather uncommon “oligo-mimics” will be covered below, our usual challenge is separating oligodendroglial tumors from those of astrocytic lineage (1). This is particularly important for three reasons:
-
1.
Oligodendroglial tumors, particularly the high-grade ones, respond well to a variety chemotherapeutic regimens, while astrocytic tumors generally do not (2).
-
2.
Exclusive of this chemoresponsiveness, oligodendrogliomas are biologically less aggressive than astrocytomas of similar grade.
-
3.
Due to their relatively high cellularity, the failure to recognize low-grade oligodendroglial tumors generally leads to diagnoses of high-grade astrocytomas, resulting in unnecessary therapeutic interventions which may cause significant morbidity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Coons, S.W., Johnson, P.C., Scheithauer, B.W., Yates, A.J., Pearl, D.K. (1997) Improving diagnostic accuracy and interobserver concordance in the classification and grading of primary gliomas.
Perry, J.R., Louis, D.N., Cairncross, J.G. (1999) Current treatment of oligodendrogliomas. Arch. Neurol. 56: 434–436.
Kros, J.M., van Eden, C.G., Stefanko, S.Z., Waayer-Van Batenburg, M., van der Kwast, Th.H. (1990) Prognostic implications of glial fibrillary acidic protein containing cell types in oligodendrogliomas. Cancer 66: 1204–1212.
Tenenbaum, L., Teugels, E., Dogusan, Z., Avellana-Adalid, V., Hooghe-Peters, E.L. (1996) Plastic phenotype of human oligodendroglial tumour cells in vitro. Neuropathol. Appl. Neurobiol. 22: 302–310.
Burger, P.C., Scheithauer, B.W. (1994) Tumors of neuroglia and chroid plexus epithelium. In: Tumors of the Central Nervous System, 3rd ed. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C. pp. 25–161.
Kraus, J.A., Koopman, J., Kaskel, P., Maintz, D., Brandner, S., Schramm, J., Louis, D.N., Wiestler, O.D., von Deimling, A. (1995) Shared allelic losses on chromosomes Ip and 19q suggest a common origin of oligodendroglioma and oligoastrocytoma. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 54: 91–95.
Burger, P.C., Rawlings, C.E., Cox, E.B., McLendon, R.E., Schold, S.C., Bullard, D.E. (1987) Clinicopathologic correlations in the oligodendroglioma. Cancer 59: 1345–1352.
Shaw, E.G., Scheithauer, B.W., O’Fallon, J.R., Tazelaar, H.D., Davis, D.H. (1992) Oligodendrogliomas: the Mayo Clinic experience. J. Neurosurg. 76: 428–434.
Kros, J.M., Hop, W.C.J., Godschalk, J.J.C.J., Krishnadath, K.K. (1996) Prognostic value of the proliferation-related antigen Ki-67 in oligodendrogliomas. Cancer 78: 1107–1113.
Cairncross, J.G., Ueki, K., Zlatescu, M.C., Lisle, D.K., Finkelstein, D.M., Hammond, R.R., Silver, J.S., Stark, P.C., MacDonald, D.R., Ino, Y., Ramsay, D.A., Louis, D.N. (1998) Specific genetic predictors of chemotherapeutic response and survival in patients with anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. JNCI 90: 1473–1479.
Leung, S.Y., Ng, H.K. (1996) Three recently recognized tumors that may mimic oligodendroglioma: central neurocytoma, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, and clear cell ependymoma. Advances in Anatomic Pathology 3: 130–138.
Giangaspero, F., Cenacchi, G., Losi, L., Cerasoli, S., Bisceglia, M., Burger, P.C. (1997) Extraventricular neoplasms with neurocytoma features. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 21: 206–212
Min, K.W., Scheithauer, B.W. (1997) Clear cell ependymoma: a mimic of oligodendroglioma: clinicopathologic and ultra-structural considerations. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 21: 820–826
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Prayson, R.A., Cohen, M.L. (2000). Oligodendroglioma. In: Practical Differential Diagnosis in Surgical Neuropathology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-037-7_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-037-7_10
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-201-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-037-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive