Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor originally diagnosed as astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma

Abstract

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT), described in 1988 and introduced in the WHO classification in 1993, affects predominantly children or young adults causing intractable complex partial seizures. Since it is benign and treated with surgical resection, its recognition is important. It has similarities with low-grade gliomas and gangliogliomas, which may recur and become malignant. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether DNT was previously diagnosed as astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, or ganglioglioma and to determine its frequency in a series of low-grade glial/glio-neuronal tumors. METHODS: Clinical, radiological, and histological aspects of 58 tumors operated from 1978 to 2008, classified as astrocytomas (32, including 8 pilocytic), oligodendrogliomas (12), gangliogliomas (7), and DNT (7), were reviewed. RESULTS: Four new DNT, one operated before 1993, previously classified as astrocytoma (3) and oligodendroglioma (1), were identified. One DNT diagnosed in 2002 was classified once more as angiocentric glioma. Therefore, 10 DNT (17.2%) were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical-radiological and histopathological correlations have contributed to diagnose the DNT.

A peculiar histopathological form of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor with separated pilocytic astrocytoma and rosette‐forming glioneuronal tumor components

“…A diagnosis of DNT should also consider various other tumors with neuronal and glial components that are included in a heterogeneous group of mixed neuronal‐glial tumors of the CNS . Occasionally, unusual compound tumors have been reported, which show features characteristic of DNT and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma or ganglioglioma .…”

Epilepsy-associated tumours: what epileptologists should know about neuropathology, terminology, and classification systems

“…Uncertainty is not only restricted to histological classification but also to tumour grading (Daumas‐Duport et al ., ; Campos et al ., ; Dozza et al ., ; Chassoux et al ., ). Some clinicians may consider discrepancies in the classification of benign brain tumours as an academic issue.…”

Review: Challenges in the histopathological classification of ganglioglioma and DNT: microscopic agreement studies and a preliminary genotype‐phenotype analysis

“…Analysis of 4.454 tumours obtained from adults and children, published in eight single‐centre epilepsy surgery series, revealed huge differences in geographical prevalence (Table ), ranging from 4% to 44% for glioma, 7% to 50% for GG and 13% to 80% for DNT . Uncertainty is not restricted to the histological classification but also observed in tumour grading . LEAT carry only remote risk for malignant progression, and the WHO classification did not define atypical variants for GG and DNT.…”