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Oligodendroglioma
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Oligodendroglioma

A high power photomicrograph of an oligodendroglioma, demonstrating the uniform nuclei and "box like" or "fried egg" appearing cells.
The cytoplasm is clear and the cytoplasmic membranes are well defined.
The nuclei are round and relatively regular.
This tumor makes up about 5% of gliomas and often shows calcifications.
(Description By:Margaret Grunnet, M.D. )
(Image Contrib. by:Margaret Grunnet, M.D. UCHC )
Oligodendroglioma
Etiology

The etiology of the oligodendroglioma is unknown but most tumors show abnormalties of chromosome 19 and 1.
Pathogenesis

See Etiology.,
Epidemiology

Oligodendrogliomas make up about 5% of intracranial tumors and 10% of gliomas.
They are relatively slow growing except for the anaplastic variety which is rare.
General Gross Description

Oligodendrogliomas are grey gelatinous masses in the brain that act as mass lesions.
They are more comman in the cerebral hemispheres.
General Microscopic Description

The tumor is made up of uniform oval cells with clear to pale pink cytoplasm and relatively uniform oval to round nuclei that have a fried egg or "box like" appearance.
The stroma is made up of capillaries having a chickenwire appearance between groups of tumor cells.
There is no good grading system and no specific immunoperoxidase stain to identify them.
Clinical Correlation

Oligodendrogliomas act as mass lesions, infiltrating areas of brain.
If they infiltrate the motor area, there are seizures of a focal motor type or hemiparesis.
Infiltrating sensory regions may produce sensory symptoms or misinterpretations.
They also are associated with edema so can produce herniation.
References

Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 1343-1345.
Poirer J et.al. Manual of basic neuropathology. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1990, pp.26-27.
Oligodendroglioma
Synopsis by: Dr ML Grunnet (TX2000M94503)[493]
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