Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor - An immunohistochemical study withmyelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein

Context.-The dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) is an uncommon le sion characterized by a heterogeneous population of neurons, astrocytes, an d oligodendroglia-like cells (OLCs). The basic nature of the DNT and its co nstituent cells, particularly the OLCs, remains unresolved; some authors fa vor a neuronal origin, and: others propose a glial or mixed origin for thes e cells. Design.-We examined 11 DNTs with antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glyco protein, a marker of mature oligodendrocytes. Results.-All DNTs studied (7 from males, 4 from females; age range of patie nts, 2-37 years) were composed of varying proportions of neurons, astrocyte s, and OLCs. Membrane or cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for myelin oligodendr ocyte glycoprotein was found in many OLCs in 9 of 11 cases. The number of m yelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-positive OLCs was variable: >75 % of the OLCs were positive in 5 cases, 25 % to 75 % of the OLCs were positive in 2 cases, and <25 % of the OLCs were positive in 2 cases. Conclusion.-These findings suggest that many of the OLCs represent mature o ligodendrocytes and support the notion that DNTs are heterogenous lesions c omposed of multiple, mature cell types.