Search

Tanycytic ependymomas mostly occur in the spinal cord and it is the rarest histological subtype of ependymoma. A 29-year-old male was referred from the infertility clinic after serum prolactin levels were found to be elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain showed an irregular necrotic lesion in the periventricular region of the left parietal lobe which had an intraventricular component and associated perilesional edema. In addition, a sellar mass with suprasellar extension was also found on the MRI. He was started on cabergoline therapy for macroprolactinoma and underwent a left parietal craniotomy, and microsurgical excision of the tumor using intraoperative neurosonographic guidance. Histologically, the tumor showed spindle cytologic features and poorly developed inconspicuous pseudorosettes, with areas of rounded nuclear profiles and perinuclear cytoplasmic clearing. Tumor cells were positive for vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100, and negative for epithelial membrane antigen. Ki67 was <7%. He was diagnosed with tanycytic ependymoma and a coexistent prolactinoma. He received 10 cycles of image-guided radiotherapy. Post-operative imaging showed minimal residual tumor the size of which remained stable at 1-year follow-up scan. The pituitary macroadenoma regressed with cabergoline therapy and he clinically improved. This presentation of synchronous macroprolactinoma and tanycytic ependymoma has not been reported in the literature previously. An exhaustive literature review showed only 18 previously reported cases of supratentorial tanycytic ependymoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tanycytic ependymoma is a neuroectodermal tumor that arises from ependymoglial cells or tanycytes. It is highly uncommon. We reported a 34-year-old man who was diagnosed with intradural-intramedullary tanycytic ependymoma, located at the level of C4-5 who had a 9-months history of neck pain and left arm pain, and numbness on fingers. One month prior to presentation, his left arm numbness and paresthesia deteriorated. The lesion was removed totally by C4, C5 hemilaminoplasty. The histologic pattern of this lesion was consisted of fascicles forming nebula-like whorling structures. Because of these structures, tanycytic ependymoma should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of a whorling-sclerosing variant of meningiomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tanycytic ependymoma is a rare variant of ependymoma that commonly affects the cervical and thoracic spinal cord. It usually arises as intramedullary lesions and extramedullary cases are extremely rare. Case Description: We present a 77-year-old woman with the complaints of a 2-year history of progressive paraparesis and sensory loss in her lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a stretched and fusiform intradural extramedullary lesion at T5-T10 level. Gross total removal of the tumor was achieved and a definitive diagnosis of tanycytic ependymoma was established. Conclusion: This case thus represents a rare case of thoracic intradural extramedullary tanycytic ependymoma and, to the best of our knowledge, it represents the longest intradural extramedullary tanycytic ependymoma in craniocaudal direction ever reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tanycytic ependymoma has been marked as Grade II by the World Health Organization (WHO), requiring considerable treatment. However, according to the fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System published in 2021, tanycytic ependymoma is no longer identified as a subtype of ependymoma. Herein, we offer an unusual case of a supratentorial ependymoma, previously tanycytic ependymoma. Which radiologically mimic pineal region tumors; however, they pathologically mimic meningiomas, schwannomas, medulloblastomas, or astroblastomas. A three-year-old girl presented to our neurosurgery department with sudden onset gait disturbance and balance impairment; we detected no additional neurologic deficit. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed a giant, multilobulated, well-circumscribed right pineal mass, approximately 4.5 x 4.5 x 4.5 cm in size, crossing the midline and extending posteriorly, invading the pineal region. The initial diagnosis was a pineal region tumor. Following gross-total resection of the tumor, pathology reports showed tanycytic ependymoma. Postoperatively the patient's gait disturbance was improved, and there was no balance impairment. Follow-ups at three and six months, no sign of recurrence has been encountered. Our case demonstrates that supratentorial ependymomas may also occur in the pineal region and requires an accurate neuropathologic diagnosis. Early accurate diagnosis is essential; since those tumors may be related to a wide range of prognoses and necessitate different treatment modalities., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Yangi et al.)

Tanycytic ependymomas are a rare spinal cord tumour arising from tanycyte cells lining the ventricle or spinal central canal. This is the first report of familial spinal tanycytic ependymoma occurring in two first degree relatives. Both patients underwent surgical resection of the intra-medullary tumours with good overall recovery. Genetic analysis identified that the brothers shared a previously unreported mutation in the NF-2 gene. NF-2 mutations in spinal tanycytic ependymomas may be more common than initially thought and consideration should be given to screening the neural axis for other tumours and genetic counselling., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)