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Brain Tumors Lecture Summary
May 27, 2025
Lecture on Brain Tumors
Overview
Brain tumors can be categorized into tumors of adulthood and tumors of childhood.
Important for medical examinations like USMLE.
Use mnemonics to simplify and remember key facts about each type.
Tumors of Adulthood
1.
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)
Highly malignant and invasive.
Typically crosses the corpus callosum, creating a "butterfly appearance" in the brain.
Histology
: Pseudopalisading tumor cells, GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) positive.
Mnemonic
: GBM - G for GFAP positive, P for Pseudopalisading, M for Midline/Malignant.
2.
Oligodendroglioma
Histology
: Chicken-wire capillary pattern, "Fried egg" appearance of cells, often calcified.
Mnemonic
: Oligo - Chicken-wire (chickens lay eggs), Fried egg appearance, Eggs have calcium (calcification).
3.
Meningioma
Benign, superficial location (arises from meninges).
Histology
: Psammoma bodies, spindle cells.
Mnemonic
: MEN have problems with PSA - P for Psammoma bodies, S for Spindle cells, A for Arachnoid origin.
4.
Hemangioblastoma
Blood vessel origin, EPO producing (can cause polycythemia).
Associated with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.
Mnemonic
: Heme (blood) Angio (vessel) Blastoma.
5.
Pituitary Adenoma
Types: Lactotroph (prolactinoma), Somatotroph (e.g., GH, TSH, ACTH producing), Non-functional.
Symptoms
:
Prolactinoma: Galactorrhea, Amenorrhea, Gynecomastia, Decreased libido.
Somatotroph adenomas produce symptoms based on the hormone secreted (e.g. Gigantism for GH, etc.).
Non-functional: Mass effect symptoms like headache, bitemporal hemianopia.
Mnemonic
: Add-enoma - adding hormones or mass effect.
6.
Schwannoma
Located at cerebellopontine angle, affecting CN VII (facial) & CN VIII (vestibulocochlear).
Histology
: S-100 positive.
Associated with neurofibromatosis type II if bilateral.
Mnemonic
: SCHW - S for S-100, C for Cerebellopontine, H for Hearing, W for Winking.
Tumors of Childhood
1.
Pilocytic Astrocytoma
Histology
: Rosenthal fibers, GFAP positive.
Mnemonic
: Houston Astros (Astrocytoma) represented by Drew Rosenhaus (Rosenthal fibers).
2.
Medulloblastoma
Histology
: Homer-Wright rosettes.
Mnemonic
: Blast the ball for a homerun (Homer-Wright rosettes).
3.
Ependymoma
Histology
: Perivascular pseudorosettes.
Mnemonic
: Forgot mom's birthday, give a pseudo-rosette to make up (Append-a-momma).
4.
Craniopharyngioma
Remnants of Rathke's pouch.
No mnemonic
, just memorize association.
5.
Pinealoma
Causes Parinaud syndrome.
Mnemonic
: P for Pinealoma, P for Parinaud syndrome.
Additional Notes
Childhood tumor buzzwords are crucial for exams but less in-depth understanding is required unless pursuing neurology.
High-yield associations and mnemonics can greatly aid in memorization for exams.
The lecture emphasizes simplification through mnemonics and understanding key histological features.
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