Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) in an infant
Rhabdoid cells (such as those circled above) frequently are seen in AT/RTs (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - July 9, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neoplasms Source Type: blogs

Malignant astroblastoma in a 23-year-old female
Headaches prompted imaging which showed a large right parieto-occipital tumor. Astroblastic pseudorossettes are prominent, with cells that are fairly monotonous. GFAP was only focally positive, not unusual for this diagnosis. Mitotic rate ranged up to 8 per 10 HPF, with a MIB1 cell cycling index reaching 40%. (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - July 6, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neoplasms Source Type: blogs

More on Rosenthal
Thanks toDr. Gregg B. Wells from Texas A&M University for directing me to an article authored byDr. Hans Goebel of Charite-Universit ätsmedizin in Berlin regarding the life and accomplishments of neuropathologist Werner Rosenthal (1870-1942). Dr. Wells was prompted to write to me by my recent post entitled "Who was Rosenthal? " . For those who are interested in Dr. Rosethal ' s travails as a Jew in Nazi Germany forced into exile in India, I encourage you to read Dr. Goebel ' s open-access article.Dr. Werner Rosenthal with his wife and daughter in 1917.(Taken from Dr. Goebel ' s article in Clinical Neuropathology)...
Source: neuropathology blog - July 5, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: history Source Type: blogs

Diffuse intracranial dolichoectasia in a 68 yo man with thoracic arterial dissection
Picture courtesy of Mark Cohen, MD of Case Western Reserve University (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 29, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: vascular disease Source Type: blogs

Embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes, C19MC-altered
Embryonal tumor with multlayered rosettes, C19MC-altered, is a WHO grade IV tumor with alterations -- including amplifications and fusions -- in the C19MC locus at 19q13.42. (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 25, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neoplasms Source Type: blogs

Who was Rosenthal?
A Rosenthal fiber in pilocytic astrocytoma" In 1898, the German pathologist Werner Rosenthal noted elongated inclusions within the gliotic edge of a syringeal cavity of an ependymoma. Assigned to write the case report by a senior mentor while serving as a “first assistant” at theUniversity of Erlangen, Rosenthal colorfully described these inclusions as a “glossy formation of little bulbs or wavy sausages with one thick and one pointed end.”…. His supposition that they were related to glial fibers would prove surprisingly insightful. Not until some 20 years later did Bielschowsky and Unger use the t...
Source: neuropathology blog - June 22, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neoplasms Source Type: blogs

Pennies-on-a-plate cell in a pilocytic astrocytoma
Multinucleated astrocytes with peripherally situated nuclei like this one in a pilocytic astrocytomaare referred to as having a " pennies-on-a-plate " configurationThis is a common " degenerative " change seen in long-standing pilocytic astrocytomas. I ' m not sure from where this " pennies-on-a-plate " designation derives, but please leave a comment if you know. (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 21, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neoplasms Source Type: blogs

Guest Post - Wanted: Your Opinion on Artificial Intelligence in Pathology
Today features a guest post from Dr. Phedias Diamandis of the University of Toronto:Phedias Diamandis, MD, PhDThere is a growing body of evidence highlighting the utility of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in pathology. AI is a type of mathematical algorithm that allows computers to carry out human-like tasks considered “intelligent”, such as recognizing diagnostic histologic patterns or counting mitotic figures on digital H&E slides.  This has the potential to radically transform the clinical practice of pathologists. This anonymous survey was developed to understand the familiarity, enthusiasm, and concerns pat...
Source: neuropathology blog - June 19, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neuropathologists Source Type: blogs

International Society of Neuropathology set to meet in Tokyo this fall
Keio Plaza Hotel in TokyoThe 19th International Congress of Neuropathology will take place in Tokyo on September 23-27, 2018. The Congress meets every four years. The upcoming meeting will be hosted by the Japanese Society of Neuropathology with the theme ‘a gateway to modern neuroscience’. The Congress will be held at the centralKeio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo, The meeting will be held in conjunction with the Asian Congress of Neuropathology and the Japanese Societies of Neuropathology and Brain Tumour Pathology. The  programme and other details are now on the Congress website.  (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 18, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: meetings Source Type: blogs

More on the amazing word " physaliferous "
Since my post this past Wednesday about the etymology of the word " physaliferous " which designates the characteristic cells comprising chordomas, the illustriousDr. Maria Martinez-Lage (neuropathologist atMassachusetts General Hospital), tweeted about another word which derives from the same Greek root. Here is Dr. Martinez-Lage ' s tweet:Physaliferous cells resemble the fruit of the physalis plant, an edible berry that is round and surrounded by a delicate lacy husk. It goes by many names: Golden berry, cape gooseberry, edible Chinese lantern. Delicious! (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 15, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neoplasms Source Type: blogs

A Primer on Giant Cell (Temporal) Arteritis
Neuropathologists are often tasked with handling ophthalmic pathology at their institutions. As such, they are assigned all cases submitted by ophthalmologists -- including temporal artery biopsies for determination of the presence of active giant cell (temporal) arteritis. What follows is a quick reference on the important points to remember about giant cell arteritis. (If there are things I am forgetting, please add your comments.):Arrow points to a giant cell in a temporal artery wall(from Robbins Basic Pathology, 10th edition)Refering to the condition as " temporal arteritis " is not entirely accurate as giant cell art...
Source: neuropathology blog - June 14, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: ophthalmic pathology Source Type: blogs

Etymology of the word " physaliferous "
The characteristic cells seen inchordoma, physaliferous cells (which, according to theOxford English Dictionary, can alternatively be spelled ' physaliphorous ' ) is from the Greekphysallis (meaning ' bubble ' ) andphoros (meaning ' bearing ' ).The " bubble-bearing " physaliferous cells of a chordoma (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 13, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neoplasms Source Type: blogs

A primary central nervous system lymphoma overwhelmed by necrosis and neutrophil infiltration
This PCNSL (later proved to be EBV-driven)biopsied from the right parietal lobe is hardly discernible among the necrotic debris and neutrophilic infiltrationTumor cells (outlined) with and surrounding a vessel wall (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - June 12, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: lymphoma Source Type: blogs

Moving beyond histologic grading of IDH-wildtype diffuse astrocytic gliomas
Despite the fact that the most recent update of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors was published only two years ago, the data is already showing that we are moving beyond that classification system when if comes to IDH-wildtype diffuse astrocytomas. The concept of an " integrated diagnosis " in the setting of IDH-wildtype histologic grade II and III tumors has already been eclipsed in the literature by the primacy of the genetic signature over histologic appearance in predicting outcome. In the near future, diffuse IDH-wildtype astrocytic gliomas with (1) combined whole chro...
Source: neuropathology blog - May 30, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neoplasms Source Type: blogs

Dr. Dan Brat interviewed on Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine Podcast
In the latest episode of theNorthwestern Medicine Breakthroughs podcast,Daniel Brat, MD, PhD discusses the emerging integrated molecular-histomorphological classification of diffuse gliomas. In an episode entitled " A New Way to Diagnose Brain Tumors " , Dr. Brat -- the new chairman of theNorthwestern Pathology -- states that "whenever you go through a reclassification that dramatic, there ' s going to be gaps in knowledge and gaps in practice and we are recognizing those gaps on aDr. Dan Bratdaily basis, on a yearly basis.  And we as a brain tumor community internationally are working to fill those gaps in knowledge....
Source: neuropathology blog - May 25, 2018 Category: Radiology Tags: neuropathologists Source Type: blogs