Central neurocytoma is a neuronal neoplasm that occurs supratentoriall
y in the lateral or third ventricles. The authors report the clinical,
neuroradiological, and neuropathological features of two neurocytomas
arising in the spinal cord of two men, aged 65 and 49 years. The pati
ents presented with progressive neurological deficits referable to the
cervical spinal cord. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed isodense in
tramedullary spinal cord tumors at the C3-4 level. Both tumors were in
itially misdiagnosed as gliomas. In Case 1 the correct diagnosis was m
ade after electron microscopy revealed neuronal features. Immunostaini
ng in Case 2 revealed that tumor cells were positive for synaptophysin
and negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, strongly indicating
a neuronal tumor. It is suggested that this spinal cord neoplasm be i
ncluded under the designation ''central neurocytoma.''