Infratentorial Ependymomas of Childhood. Correlation Between Histological Features, Immunohistological Phenotype, Silver Nucleolar Organizer Region Staining Values and Post-operative Survival in 16 Cases

Overview

Journal Acta Neuropathol

Specialty Neurology

Date 1991 Jan 1

PMID 1718129

Citations 9

Authors

D Figarella-Branger

D Gambarelli

C Dollo

B Devictor

L Genitori

G Lena

M Choux

J F Pellissier

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We have examined pathological criteria in 16 cases of infratentorial ependymomas of childhood using a conventional histological approach, with immunohistochemistry and silver nucleolar organizer region staining (AgNORs). We have found that some of these criteria are of prognostic value. The following histological features were evaluated in each case: cellular density, cellular or nuclear pleiomorphism, mitosis, focal necrosis, endothelial proliferation and complete loss of differentiation. The expression of the following antigens was also studied: epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), human natural killer (HNK1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin. Only three histological criteria have been retained as indicative of bad prognosis, i.e., high mitotic index, a large amount of necrosis and complete loss of differentiation. These criteria distinguish ependymomas from anaplastic ependymomas. GFAP was expressed in all tumors while other antigens were more variable. In addition tumors expressing large amounts of GFAP were statistically associated with a better prognosis. Increased vimentin expression associated with a decrease of GFAP immunoreactivity correlated with anaplasia and short survival. EMA was not directly correlated with postoperative survival but may be considered as a further prognostic factor. Finally AgNORs values were not statistically correlated with postoperative survival.

Citing Articles

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Immunohistochemical study of CD99 and EMA expression in ependymomas.

Mahfouz S, Aziz A, Gabal S, El-Sheikh S Medscape J Med. 2008; 10(2):41.

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