Medication Summary

The standard chemotherapeutic treatment for oligodendrogliomas is combination chemotherapy with PCV, initiated about 4 weeks after radiation therapy, or temozolomide concomitant with radiation followed by adjuvantly about 4 weeks after radiation. The schedule and modifications for these regimens are beyond the scope of this article.

Class Summary

This combination of agents inhibits cell growth and differentiation.

Follow-up

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Media Gallery

Classic histologic image of oligodendroglioma. This image shows monomorphous tumoral proliferation that consists of round, regular cells with a small, central, hyperchromatic nucleus surrounded by clear cytoplasm. Few calcifications are present.
Smear preparation of anaplastic oligodendroglioma. This image reveals increased nuclear pleomorphism and vascular proliferation.
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan in a 44-year-old man with a 3-year history of epileptic seizures. This image reveals a calcified hypoattenuating lesion that is invading the corpus callosum.
Computed tomography scan of a low-grade oligodendroglioma. This image reveals a well-demarcated, left frontal hypoattenuating lesion with a small calcification.
Sagittal gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance image of a low-grade oligodendroglioma. This image demonstrates no contrast enhancement.
Oligodendrogliomas. This tumor exhibits oligodendroglial-type nuclei and scanty eosinophilic fibrillar cytoplasm amidst a mucinous background. Such tumors may be considered oligoastrocytomas.
Oligodendrogliomas. The classic appearance of the oligodendroglioma is that of a round to oval, water-clear cytoplasm ringing about round to lobulated nuclei. The chromatin appearance is finely threadlike to smudgy, often associated with pointlike basophilic chromocenters, rather than nucleoli.
Oligodendrogliomas. The cellular density is moderate to high, and the fried-egg appearance dominates the histologic features.
Oligodendrogliomas. Oligodendrogliomas with vascular proliferation and significant mitotic activity are best considered to be anaplastic oligodendrogliomas (World Health Organization [WHO] grade III).
Oligodendrogliomas. Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas frequently take on eosinophilic cytoplasm and hyperchromasia of the nuclei. Such tumors may demonstrate necrosis among its diagnostic features.

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Author

Caroline T Goldin, MD Fellow in Neuro-oncology, Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Douglas E Ney, MD Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Director of Neurology Residency Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Douglas E Ney, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society for Neuro-Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

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

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Jorge C Kattah, MD Head, Associate Program Director, Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria

Jorge C Kattah, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Stephen A Berman, MD, PhD, MBA Professor of Neurology, University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Stephen A Berman, MD, PhD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Neurology, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

ABM Salah Uddin, MD Private Practice, Norwood Neurology; Consulting Staff, Department of Neurology, St Vincent's Hospital

ABM Salah Uddin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Tambi Jarmi, MD Resident Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Carraway Methodist Medical Center

Tambi Jarmi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Adekunle M Adesina, MD, PhD Professor, Medical Director, Section of Neuropathology, Director, Molecular Neuropathology Laboratory, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine

Adekunle M Adesina, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Neuropathologists, College of American Pathologists, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Roger E McLendon, MD Professor, Director of Surgical Pathology, Chief of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center

Roger E McLendon, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Neuropathologists, College of American Pathologists, Society for Neuro-Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Subramanian Hariharan, MD to the development and writing of this article.