The significance of intratumoural neurones and neuronal differentiation indiffuse gliomas: a case series

We describe four patients, ranging from 26-40 years of age, who presented w ith seizures and large, poorly circumscribed cerebral tumours on magnetic r esonance imaging. The resected tumours demonstrated a histopathology simila r to low-grade glioma, but with admixed mature neurones. Immunohistochemist ry demonstrated expression of putative neuronal antigens in the neuronal co mponent as well as in tumour cells which did not show neuronal morphology. These tumours did not have the usual radiological and pathological features typical of gangliogliomas, but demonstrated an infiltrative pattern of gro wth and subsequent progressive behaviour. The term ganglioglioma, with its implication of good prognosis, is therefore inappropriate for tumours of th is type. The expression of "neuronal" antigens by astrocytomas requires fur ther investigation.