Gemistocytic astrocytoma

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sujit Routray, M.D. [2]Roukoz A. Karam, M.D.[3]

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. Gemistocytic astrocytomas are characterized by a significant gemistocytes population, which are large cells with their cytoplasm filled with eosinophilic material displacing the nucleus eccentrically.

Historical Perspective

  • Gemistocytic astrocyte was first described by Franz Nissl in the 20th century.[1]

Classification

Gemistocytic astrocytoma is a subtype of astrocytoma and is included in the classification of astrocytoma. For more information about the classification of astrocytoma, click here.

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.[2]
  • 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:[1][3]
  • On gross pathology, gemistocytic astrocytoma is characterized by:[1]
  • Gray-tan mass
  • Well-defined borders
  • Soft texture
  • Cystic architecture
  • On microscopic histopathological analysis, gemistocytic astrocytoma is characterized by:[4]
  • 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

  • It is important to note that other gliomas (e.g. fibrillary astrocytoma and oligodendrogliomas) can have occasional gemistocytes, without being designated a gemistocytic astrocytoma.
  • We use a cut off of 20% of the tumor cells being gemistocytes before designating it as a gemistocytic astrocytoma.[5]
  • Gemistocytic astrocytoma must be differentiated from:

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.
  • Gemistocytic astrocytoma makes up approximately 10% of all WHO grade II diffuse astrocytomas.

Risk Factors

There are no specific risk factors for gemistocytic astrocytoma. For more information on risk factors for astrocytoma, click here.

Screening

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for gemcistocytic astrocytoma.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

  • Common complications of gemistocytic astrocytoma include:
  • Gemistocytic astrocytoma has a poorer prognosis than the other matched WHO grade II (low-grade) astrocytic tumors (fibrillary astrocytoma, protoplasmic astrocytoma, and oligoastrocytoma).
  • Gemistocytic astrocytoma has been associated with early progression and less favorable outcome; however, it remains to be determined whether the prognosis of IDH-mutant gemistocytic astrocytoma differs significantly from that of IDH-mutant diffuse astrocytoma.
  • The 5-year survival rate of patients with gemistocytic astrocytoma is approximately 30%.[8]
  • The median survival time with treatment is only 2.5 years.
  • Favorable prognostic factors for gemistocytic astrocytoma include:[7]
  • Age < 50 years
  • Occurrence of seizures as the initial symptom
  • Pre-operative symptoms lasting more than 6 months
  • The authors conclude that the presence of at least 20% gemistocytes in a glial neoplasm is a poor prognostic sign, irrespective of the pathological background. It is proposed that gemistocytic astrocytomas be classified with anaplastic astrocytomas and treated accordingly.
  • A poor prognostic factor for gemistocytic astrocytoma is the presence of at least 20% gemistocytes in a glial neoplasm irrespective of its pathological background.[9]

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Study of Choice

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:

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Electrocardiogram

There are no ECG findings associated with gemistocytic astrocytoma.

X-ray

There are no x-ray findings associated with gemistocytic astrocytoma.

Echocardiography or Ultrasound

There are no echocardiography/ultrasound findings associated with gemistocytic astrocytoma.

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

  • 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).

Other Diagnostic Studies

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

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

  • The predominant therapy for gemistocytic astrocytoma is surgical resection. Adjunctive radiation and nitrosourea-based chemotherapy may be required.[7]
  • 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.[7]
  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy may have a role in recurrent and de-differentiated tumors.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Treatment of gemistocytic astrocytoma
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Surgery
 
 
 
Radiotherapy
 
 
 
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References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Tihan, Tarik; Vohra, Poonam; Berger, Mitchel S.; Keles, G. Evren (2005). "Definition and Diagnostic Implications of Gemistocytic Astrocytomas: A Pathological Perspective". Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 76 (2): 175–183. doi:10.1007/s11060-005-4897-2. ISSN 0167-594X.
  2. Pathology of gemistocytic astrocytoma. Dr Henry Knipe and A.Prof Frank Gaillard et al. Radiopaedia 2016. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/gemistocytic-astrocytoma. Accessed on January 8, 2016
  3. Prayson, Richard (2010). Brain tumors. New York: Demos Medical Pub. ISBN 1933864699.
  4. Prayson, Richard (2010). Brain tumors. New York: Demos Medical Pub. ISBN 1933864699.
  5. Tonn, FirstName (2006). Neuro-oncology of CNS tumors. Berlin New York: Springer. ISBN 3540258337.
  6. Clinical presentation of low grade infiltrative astrocytoma. Dr Ahmed Abd Rabou and A.Prof Frank Gaillard et al. Radiopaedia 2016. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/low-grade-infiltrative-astrocytoma. Accessed on January 8, 2016
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Krouwer HG, Davis RL, Silver P, Prados M (1991). "Gemistocytic astrocytomas: a reappraisal". J Neurosurg. 74 (3): 399–406. doi:10.3171/jns.1991.74.3.0399. PMID 1993905.
  8. Raghavan, Derek (2006). Textbook of uncommon cancer. Chichester, England: Wiley. ISBN 0470012021.
  9. Krouwer HG, Davis RL, Silver P, Prados M (1991). "Gemistocytic astrocytomas: a reappraisal". J Neurosurg. 74 (3): 399–406. doi:10.3171/jns.1991.74.3.0399. PMID 1993905.

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