Central neurocytoma: a clinicopathological and neuroradiological study

Central neurocytoma (CNC) is an uncommon benign tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) occurring in adults and is more likely to be located in the region of the foramina of Monra. Few studies have described the neuroradiological features of CNC, and most are single case reports. Our aim was to analyze the clinicopathological and neuroradiological characteristics of CNC. We retrospectively studied the preoperative CT (n=2) and MRI (n=5) of three men and two women (mean age 45 years, ranging from 30 to 63 years) with pathologically proven CNC. The tumors were primarily located in the region of the foramina of Monra. Two of them occupied the lateral ventricle, appearing to be attached to the septum pellucidum, and the other three tumors arose from the septum pellucidum and extended into the lateral ventricles. The tumors were of mixed density with cystic features and patchy or fine calcification on noncontrast CT scans, and they were of low or isointense signal on T1- and heterogeneously hyperintense signal on T2- and FLAIR weighted images. Contrast enhancement varied greatly from very slight to intense. Immunohistochemical staining showed a positive reaction for synaptophysin (Syn), neuro-specific enclase (NSE), neurofilament protein (NF) in the tumor cells and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) in the fibrillar zones. CNC should be taken into consideration first if a tumor arises from the region of the foramina of Monra with CNC neuroradiological characteristics and the patient is an adult.