NEUROCYTOMA RHABDOMYOMA (MYONEUROCYTOMA) OF THE CEREBELLUM/

An unusual case of cerebellar neurocytoma with rhabdomyomatous differe ntiation in a 6-year-old boy is reported. Immunocytochemical and ultra structural features of the tumour were studied. Abortive synapse forma tion, the presence of clear vesicles and synaptophysin immunoreactivit y of the tumour cells indicated its intermediate neuronal differentiat ion, while the presence of myoblasts and myotubes and immunolabelling by desmin confirmed the rhabdomyomatous differentiation, In addition, the mesenchymal cells variably expressed neurofilament protein and gli al fibrillary acidic protein, suggesting inductive interaction between the neuroectodermal and ectomesenchymal elements and persistence of t he pleuripotential nature of the cells along the rhombic area of the b rain stem.