FAMILIAL OCCURRENCE OF POLYMORPHOUS OLIGODENDROGLIOMA

A CASE OF familial polymorphous oligodendroglioma, occurring in a brot her and sister, is presented. Polymorphous oligodendrogliomas have a c haracteristic histopathology consisting of scattered multinucleated gi ant cells against a typical oligodendroglial background. The oligodend roglial character of the tumors was underlined by positive immunostain ing for antigalactocerebroside, anticarbonic anhydrase, and anti-leu-7 , without expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein. Both tumors w ere immunopositive for p53, suggesting a mutation in the p53 gene. No incidence of cancer was recorded in the family. This is the first repo rt of familial occurrence of this particular subtype of oligodendrogli oma.