Central neurocytoma of the fourth ventricle - Case report

The authors report on a 17-year-old boy who suffered from slowly progressiv e and long-standing symptoms of ataxia, neck pain, and headache. Computeriz ed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a tumor ari sing from the floor of the fourth ventricle that resulted in a moderate hyd rocephalus. A partial resection was performed. Histological and immunohisto logical findings led to the diagnosis of an atypical central neurocytoma of the fourth ventricle. The imaging features on CT scanning, MR imaging, and proton MR spectroscopy studies, the clinical picture, and the prognosis of this very unusual tumor are discussed. Three cases of neurocytomas in the posterior fossa have been described to dale; however, in all three cases so me atypical aspects were present. In the present case, with the exception o f the very unusual location, both imaging findings and clinical history per fectly met the definition of this rare tumor.