Gemistocytic astrocytoma

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sujit Routray, M.D. [2]

Synonyms and keywords: Gemistocytic astrocytomas; Diffuse astrocytoma; Low grade astrocytoma

Overview

Gemistocytic astrocytoma is a histologic subtype of low grade astrocytoma, with a poorer prognosis than other matched WHO grade II astrocytic tumors.

Historical Perspective

• Gemistocytic astrocyte was first described by Franz Nissl in the 20th century.

Pathophysiology

• Gemistocytic astrocytoma is characterized by a significant gemistocyte population, which are large cells with their cytoplasm filled with eosinophilic material displacing the nucleus eccentrically.
• It is important to note that other gliomas can have occasional gemistocytes, without being designated a gemistocytic astrocytoma. A cut off of 20% of the tumor cells being gemistocytes may be used before designating it as a gemistocytic astrocytoma.
• Other CNS tumors and conditions that have gemistocytes or gemistocyte-like cells include:

• Oligodendroglioma with "minigemistocytes"
• Ependymoma
• Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma
• Astroblastoma
• Reactive gliosis in inflammation, infection, or demyelinating disease
• Toxic/metabolic leukoencephalopathy

• On gross pathology, gemistocytic astrocytoma is characterized by:

• Gray-tan mass
• Well-defined borders
• Soft texture
• Cystic architecture

• Gemistocytic astrocytoma is almost always supratentorial and usually located in the frontal lobes.

• On microscopic histopathological analysis, gemistocytic astrocytoma is characterized by:

• Neoplastic fibrillary astrocytes embedded in the tumor matrix
• Gemistocytes > 20% of the tumor cells

• Large, plump astrocytes
• Abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm
• Eccentric nuclei

• Low cellular density
• Mild nuclear atypia (enlarged, irregular contour, hyperchromasia, and coarsened nuclear chromatin pattern)
• Mucinous fluid containing microcystic spaces
• Perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate
• Abscence of mitoses, microvascular proliferation, and necrosis

• Gemistocytic astrocytoma is demonstrated by positivity to tumor marker such as GFAP.

Differentiating Gemistocytic Astrocytoma from other Diseases

• Gemistocytic astrocytoma must be differentiated from:

• Fibrillary astrocytoma
• Protoplasmic astrocytoma
• Oligoastrocytoma
• Stroke
• Cerebritis
• Herpes simplex encephalitis
• Anaplastic astrocytoma
• Oligodendroglioma
• Angiocentric glioma

Epidemiology and Demographics

• Gemistocytic astrocytoma is a rare disease that tends to affect children and young adults.
• The peak age at which gemistocytic astrocytoma is diagnosed ranges between 20-40 years.
• The mean age at diagnosis is 35 years.

• Males are more commonly affected with gemistocytic astrocytoma than females. The male to female ratio is approximately 1.5 to 1.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

• If left untreated, patients with gemistocytic astrocytoma may progress to develop seizures, focal neurological deficits, hydrocephalus, or malignant transformation to anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme.
• Gemistocytic astrocytoma is a slow growing tumor, but it behaves in an aggressive manner.

• Common complications of gemistocytic astrocytoma include:

• Hydrocephalus
• Malignant transformation to anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme.

• Gemistocytic astrocytoma has a poorer prognosis than the other matched WHO grade II (low-grade) astrocytic tumors (fibrillary astrocytoma, protoplasmic astrocytoma, and oligoastrocytoma).
• The 5-year survival rate of patients with gemistocytic astrocytoma is approximately 30%.
• The median survival time with treatment is only 2.5 years.
• Favorable prognostic factors for gemistocytic astrocytoma include:

• Age < 50 years
• Occurrence of seizures as the initial symptom
• Pre-operative symptoms lasting more than 6 months

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

• When evaluating a patient for gemistocytic astrocytoma, you should take a detailed history of the presenting symptom (onset, duration, and progression), other associated symptoms, and a thorough family and past medical history review.

• Symptoms of gemistocytic astrocytoma include:

• Headaches
• Seizures
• Changes in mood
• Hemiparesis
• Changes in personality
• Changes in vision
• Speech difficulties

CT Scan

• Head CT scan is helpful in the diagnosis of gemistocytic astrocytoma. On CT scan, gemistocytic astrocytoma is characterized by:

• Isodense or hypodense mass
• Positive mass effect
• Wispy enhancement (most low-grade astrocytomas are without any enhancement)

• In fact, presence of enhancement would suggest more aggressive tumors

• Calcification in 10-20% (more common in mixed tumors relating to an oligodendroglial components, i.e. oligoastrocytoma)
• Cystic or fluid attenuation components

MRI

• Brain MRI is helpful in the diagnosis of gemistocytic astrocytoma. On MRI, gemistocytic astrocytoma is characterized by:

MRI component	Findings
T1	Isointense to hypointense compared to white matter Usually confined to the white matter and causes expansion of the adjacent cortex
T2	Hyperintense compared to white matter Always follow the white matter distribution and cause expansion of the surrounding cortex Cortex may also be involved in late cases, in comparison to the oligodendroglioma, which is a cortical based tumor from the start "Microcystic changes" along the lines of spread of the infiltrative astrocytoma is a very unique behavior for the infiltrative astrocytoma, however, it is only appreciated in a few number of cases Hyperintense T2 signal is not related to cellularity or cellular atypia, but rather edema, demyelination, and other degenerative changes
T1 with contrast	No enhancement Small ill-defined areas of enhancement are not rare; however, when enhancement is seen, it should be considered as a warning sign for progression to a higher grade
Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)	No restricted diffusion Increased diffusibility is the key to differentiate the gemistocytic astrocytoma from the acute ischemia

Other Imaging Findings

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

• MR spectroscopy may be helpful in the diagnosis of gemistocytic astrocytoma.
• Findings on MR spectroscopy include:

• Elevated choline peak, low N-Acetylaspartate peak, elevated choline:creatine ratio
• Elevated myo-inositol (mI) and mI/creatine ratio
• Lack of the lactate peak seen at 1:33

• Lactate peak represents the necrosis seen in aggressive tumors (WHO grade IV)

Magnetic Resonance Perfusion

• MR perfusion may be helpful in the diagnosis of gemistocytic astrocytoma, which demonstrates no elevation of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV).

Biopsy

• Biopsy of the gemistocytic astrocytoma tumor, taken through a needle during a simple surgical procedure, helps to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

• The predominant therapy for gemistocytic astrocytoma is surgical resection. Adjunctive radiation and nitrosourea-based chemotherapy may be required.
• Surgery: Since gemistocytic astrocytoma can behave aggressively, surgery is the mainstay of treatment.
• Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy may be used in gemistocytic astrocytoma post-operatively or at the time of recurrence or progression.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy may have a role in recurrent and de-differentiated tumors.

Treatment of gemistocytic astrocytoma

Surgery

Radiotherapy

Chemotherapy