Ependymoma Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Jeffrey N Bruce, MD; Chief Editor: Jules E Harris, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 13, 2012
 
 

Differential Diagnoses

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Jeffrey N Bruce, MD  Edgar M Housepian Professor of Neurological Surgery Research, Vice-Chairman and Professor of Neurological Surgery, Director of Brain Tumor Tissue Bank, Director of Bartoli Brain Tumor Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Jeffrey N Bruce, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, New York Academy of Sciences, North American Skull Base Society, Pituitary Society, Society for Neuro-Oncology, and Society of Neurological Surgeons

Disclosure: NIH Grant/research funds Other

Coauthor(s)

David J Fusco, MD  Resident Physician in Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurosurgical Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

David J Fusco, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Medical Association, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and North American Spine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Neil A Feldstein, MD  Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Babies and Children's Hospital of New York, Assistant Professor, Departments of Clinical Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, Columbia University

Neil A Feldstein, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Association, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, and Medical Society of the State of New York

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Benjamin Kennedy  Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP  Associate Professor of Medicine in Hematology and Oncology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Therapeutic Expertise, Oncology, at PRA International

Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Federation for Medical Research, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, American Society of Hematology, Association of Clinical Research Professionals, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, European Society for Medical Oncology, Massachusetts Medical Society, and Society for Biological Therapy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP  Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Department of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jules E Harris, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Arizona Cancer Center

Jules E Harris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American Society of Hematology, and Central Society for Clinical Research

Disclosure: GlobeImmune Salary Consulting

Additional Contributors

We wish to acknowledge previous contributions to this article by Paul C McCormick, MD, and Allen Waziri, MD.

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CT scan without contrast. Fourth ventricle ependymoma.
CT scan without contrast. Fourth ventricle ependymoma. Note blood in the fourth ventricle.
CT scan without contrast in the patient with fourth ventricle ependymoma. Blood has refluxed into the third and lateral ventricles.
CT scan without contrast in the patient with fourth ventricle ependymoma. Note blood traversing foramina.
T1-weighted MRI. Rare case of a fourth ventricle ependymoma presenting as an intraventricular bleed.
T1-weighted MRI without contrast demonstrating ependymoma located in the fourth ventricle.
T2-weighted MRI demonstrating ependymoma in the fourth ventricle.
Coronal T1-weighted MRI with contrast demonstrating ependymoma of the fourth ventricle.
Gross surgical specimen of a fourth ventricle ependymoma.
Histologic study of a classic ependymoma. Note the characteristic perivascular pseudorosettes.
Cellular ependymoma. Cells with a high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. Few pseudorosettes or paucicellular areas are present.
Myxopapillary ependymoma. Clusters of loosely arranged cuboidal cells separated by pools of mucin.
Clear cell ependymoma. Round cells with cytoplasmic clearing. This may mimic an oligodendroglioma.
 
 
 
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