Central neurocytoma: histopathological variants and therapeutic approaches.

The central neurocytoma has recently been added to the differential diagnosis of intraventricular tumors. Histopathologically, this tumor is characterized by a uniform neoplastic cell population with features of neuronal differentiation. Central neurocytomas occur in young adults, develop in the area of the foramen of Monro, and are usually associated with the septum pellucidum. Initial reports appeared to indicate that these tumors are benign lesions with a favorable postoperative prognosis. The authors present clinical and neuropathological findings in a series of eight patients with central neurocytoma. An anterior transcallosal microneurosurgical approach yielded good outcomes. Postoperative radiation therapy was restricted to two patients with a malignant variant of central neurocytoma and one patient with a recurrent tumor. Observations of anaplastic variants of this neoplasm in two cases and local tumor recurrences in three indicate that the biological behavior and postoperative prognosis of central neurocytoma may not always be as favorable as previously assumed.