Glycogen-rich pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma with clear-cell features: confirmatory report of a rare variant with implications for differential diagnosis

Vajtai, Istvan; Stibal, Alexander; von Gunten, Michael; Kappeler, Andreas; Vassella, Erik; Frank, Stephan (2011). Glycogen-rich pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma with clear-cell features: confirmatory report of a rare variant with implications for differential diagnosis. Pathology, research and practice, 207(4), pp. 256-61. München: Elsevier 10.1016/j.prp.2010.12.008

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Central nervous system space-occupying lesions with clear-cell features encompass a nosologically heterogeneous array, ranging from reactive histiocytic proliferations to neuroepithelial or meningothelial neoplasms of various grades and to metastases. In the face of such differential diagnostic breadth, recognizing cytoplasmic lucency as part of the morphological spectrum of some low grade gliomas will directly have an impact on patient care. We describe a prevailing clear-cell change in an epileptogenic left temporal pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma surgically resected from a 36-year-old man. Mostly subarachnoid and focally calcified, the tumor was composed of fascicles of moderately atypical spindle cells with optically lucent cytoplasm that tended to intermingle with a desmoplastic mesh of reticulin fibers. Immunohistochemically, coexpression of S100 protein, vimentin, GFAP, and CD34 was noted. Conversely, neither punctate staining for EMA nor positivity for CD68 was seen. Mitotic activity was absent, and the MIB1 labeling index was 2-3% on average. Diastase-sensitive PAS-positive granula indicated clear-cell change to proceed from glycogen storage. Electron microscopy showed tumor cell cytoplasm to be largely obliterated by non-lysosomal-bound pools of glycogen, while hardly any fat vacuole was encountered. Neither ependymal-derived organelles nor annular lamellae suggesting oligodendroglial differentiation were detected. The latter differential diagnosis was further invalidated by lack of codeletion of chromosomal regions 1p36 and 19q13 on molecular genetic testing. By significantly interfering with pattern recognition as an implicit approach in histopathology, clear-cell change in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is likely to suspend its status as a "classic", and to prompt more deductive differential diagnostic strategies to exclude look-alikes, especially clear-cell ependymoma and oligodendroglioma.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Pathology 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Neurosurgery
UniBE Contributor:	Vajtai, Istvan, Stibal, Alexander, von Gunten, Michael, Kappeler, Andreas, Vassella, Erik
ISSN:	0344-0338
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:18
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:04
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.prp.2010.12.008
PubMed ID:	21282017
Web of Science ID:	000291451400010
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/5487 (FactScience: 210234)