Uncommon Glioneuronal Tumors: A Radiologic and Pathologic Synopsis

• Published in: American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR Vol. 43; no. 8; pp. 1080 - 1089
• Main Authors: Vaz, A, Cavalcanti, M S, da Silva Junior, E B, Ramina, R, de Almeida Teixeira, B C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society of Neuroradiology 01-08-2022
• Subjects: Adult Brain; Brain Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Brain Neoplasms - pathology; Central Nervous System Neoplasms - pathology; Child; Ganglioglioma - diagnostic imaging; Ganglioglioma - pathology; Humans; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial - pathology; Neuroimaging
• ISSN: 0195-6108; 1936-959X
• DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A7465

Glioneuronal tumors are characterized exclusively by neurocytic elements (neuronal tumors) or a combination of neuronal and glial features (mixed neuronal-glial tumors). Most of these tumors occur in young patients and are related to epilepsy. While ganglioglioma, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, and desmoplastic infantile tumor are common glioneuronal tumors, anaplastic ganglioglioma, papillary glioneuronal tumor, rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor, gangliocytoma, and central neurocytoma are less frequent. Advances in immunohistochemical and molecular diagnostics have improved the characterization of these tumors and favored the description of variants and new subtypes, some not yet classified by the World Health Organization. Not infrequently, the histologic findings of biopsies of glioneuronal tumors simulate low-grade glial neoplasms; however, some imaging findings favor the correct diagnosis, making neuroimaging essential for proper management. Therefore, the aim of this review was to present key imaging, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular findings of glioneuronal tumors and their variants.