Hemangioblastoma is a benign, highly vascularized neoplasm of the central nervous system (CNS). This tumor is associated with loss of function of the VHL gene and demonstrates frequent occurrence in von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. While this entity is designated CNS World Health Organization grade 1, due to its predilection for the cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord, it is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality in affected patients. Recognition and accurate diagnosis of hemangioblastoma is essential for the practice of surgical neuropathology. Other CNS neoplasms, including several tumors associated with VHL disease, may present as histologic mimics, making diagnosis challenging. We outline key clinical and radiologic features, pathophysiology, treatment modalities, and prognostic information for hemangioblastoma, and provide a thorough review of the gross, microscopic, immunophenotypic, and molecular features used to guide diagnosis.
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Hemangioblastoma (HB) is a rare benign tumor that most commonly occurs in the cerebellum. HB is composed of neoplastic stromal cells and abundant small vessels. However, the exact origin of stromal cells is controversial. Extraneural HBs have been reported in a small series, and peripheral HBs arising in the adrenal gland are extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of sporadic adrenal HB in a 54-year-old woman. The tumor was a well-circumscribed, yellow mass measuring 4.2 cm in diameter. Histologically, the tumor was composed of small blood vessels and vacuolated stromal cells with clear cytoplasm. On immunohistochemical stain, the stromal cells were positive for S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, and synaptophysin. The tumor did not reveal mutation of VHL alleles. We herein present a case of HB of the adrenal gland and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND Stromal cells (SCs) of hemangioblastomas (HBs) have been regarded as true neoplastic components, but their ontogeny remains unclear. Convincing evidence suggests that embryonic mesenchymal cells may be the cells of origin of HBs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunophenotypic characteristics of neoplastic SCs using a set of markers against endothelial cells (ECs), vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs), mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), and pericytes. METHODS Intracranial HBs (n=46), angiolipoma (n=9), and pyogenic granuloma (n=11) were retrieved and the immunophenotypic profile of SCs was determined by immune stainings. RESULTS The MIB-1 labeling index was significantly higher in SCs compared to that of ECs and vSMCs, regardless of the type of lesion. The neoplastic SCs of HBs consistently expressed both MSC and pericyte markers, but did not express markers of ECs and vSMCs. Double immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that the neoplastic SCs of HBs expressing MSC or pericyte markers directly abutted onto the ECs of capillaries/venules. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the neoplastic SCs of HBs share the immunophenotypic profile and distribution with those of pericyte-derived MSCs. Thus, HBs might originate from a distinctive population of pericyte-derived MSCs in the central nervous system.
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Role of Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in the Pathogenesis of Central Nervous System Hemangioblastomas Shigeki Takada, Masato Hojo, Noriyoshi Takebe, Kenji Tanigaki, Susumu Miyamoto World Neurosurgery.2018; 117: e187. CrossRef
Endogenous Gastric-Resident Mesenchymal Stem Cells Contribute to Formation of Cancer Stroma and Progression of Gastric Cancer Eun-Kyung Kim, Hye-Jung Kim, Young-Il Yang, Jong Tae Kim, Min-Young Choi, Chang Soo Choi, Kwang-Hee Kim, Jeong-Han Lee, Won-Hee Jang, Soon-Ho Cheong Korean Journal of Pathology.2013; 47(6): 507. CrossRef
Hemangioblastomas comprise 1 to 2% of all intracranial neoplasm, and 8 to 12% of tumors within the posterior fossa.
They are composed of admixtures of three different cell types; endothelial cells, pericytes and stromal cells.
Although most hemangioblastomas arise sporadically, they are associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease in about 20% cases. We have experienced a case of multiple hemangioblastomas occuiing in the cerebellum, medulla oblongata and cervical spinal cord simultaneously in a 55-year-old male. He had complained of headache, dizziness, generalized weakness and gait disturbance for 2 weeks. The patient had neither specific family history nor increased hematocrit. MRI showed a nonenhancing cystic lesion with an enhancing mural nodule in the right cerebellar hemisphere and two separate enhancing nodules in the medulla oblongata and dorsal cervical spinal cord at the 5-6th. Grossly, the excised mass of the cerebellum, 2.5 x 2 x 1.8cm, was solid to partly cystic, and that of spinal cord, lcm in diameter, was mostly solid. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of thin-walled blood vessels in variable size and interspersed stromal cells. The stromal cells revealed dimorphic cytoplasm that were either homogeneous and eosinophilic, or clear and vacuolated. Immunohistochemically, the endothelial cells reacted positively for glial fibrfllaty acidic protein(GFAP) and vimentin. The stromal cells reacted diffusely positively for vimentin, focally positively for GFAP and S-100 protein near the periphery of the tumor, focally positivel for neuro specipic enolase(NSE), and negatively for lysozyme, desmin and chromogranin.
Ultrastructurally, the stromal cells contained numerous microfilaments and lipid droplets.
The origin of the stromal cell of cerebellar hemangioblastoma has long been studied electron microscopically and immunohistochemically. The results and theories about the stromal cell origin are variable and plentiful. However, the exact origin of the stromal cell remains controversial. The present study is aimed to elucidate the nature of the stromal cell of cerebellar hemangioblastoma. Ten cases of hemangioblastoma in Severance Hospital were used for immunohistochemical analysis of the stromal cell. The immunohistochemical staining of GFAP, S-100 protein, NSE, alpha-l-antichymottypsin, cytokeratin, CD 68, factor VIII related antigen, and synaptophysin were performed. The results were as follows; GFAP and S-100 protein were stained mainly but weakly in bellar capillary spindle cell and cellular process. NSE was stained mainly in foam cells, and 6 cases among them revealed strong reaction.
ct-l-antichymotrypsin was stained in a few foam cells of 5 cases. Cytokeratin, CD 68, factor VIII related antigen, and synaptophysin showed negative reaction. Based on these results, it is considered that the origin of the stromal cell is histiocytic or neurogenic rather than glial. The weak positivity of GFAP and S-100 protein may support the neurogeriic origin but ct-l-antichymotrypsin positivity does not support the possibility. The positivity of GAP and S-100 protein supports the phagocytic action of histiocytic cell and suggests histiocytic origin rather than neurogenic.
Due to its nuclear pleomorphism, knowledge regarding the cytological findings of cerebellar hemangioblastoma can lead to misdiagnosis when using squash specimens, which in other circumstances serves as a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of brain tumors on frozen section. We recently experienced the cytological findings of a cellular variant of cerebellar hemangioblastoma in a 51-year-old man. Squash specimens revealed scattered single tumor cells, with pleomorphic nuclei and cytoplasmic vacuoles, on a hemorrhagic background. The cellular clusters were composed of spindle-shaped endothelial cellsin addition to densely clustered stromal cells. Intranuclear inclusions were frequently seen. The nuclear pleomorphism, bubbly cytoplasmic vacuoles and presence of intranuclear inclusions, seen in the squash specimen, may increase the difficulty of frozen section diagnosis of cerebellar hemangioblastoma. Awareness of the cytologicalfindings of hemangioblastoma is needed to avoid the pitfalls in the intraoperative diagnosis of cerebellar hemangioblastomas.