ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Intra or periventricular tumors of the central nervous system such as oligodendroglioma and central neurocytoma, are frequently associated with hydrocephalus and histologically share the presence of relatively uniform, small round nuclei and perinuclear halos. The two entities may be difficult to discriminate from one another from surgical specimens by a routine histologic examination. The aim of this study is to characterize and distinguish better of these two entities by examining tissue cultural characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total of 12 oligodendrogliomas and central neurocytomas were studied. Sterile fresh tumor tissues were mechanically and enzymatically dissociated into individual cells, and seeded onto 6 well culture dish with poly-L-lysine precoated Aclar coverslips placed in a well. The oligodendroglioma cells attached to the surface of the coverslips after 4 to 5 days, and easily detached by a mechanical shaking. The growth cycle of the oligodendroglioma cells show longer lag phase and shorter log phase than central neurocytoma cells. The central neurocytoma cells attached it within 12 to 24 hours, and thin, delicate cytoplasmic processes developed by 2 to 3 days after the preparation. Immunohistochemical stains for galactocerebroside and GFAP were positive in the cultured tumor cells of oligodendroglioma, and MAP2 and synaptophysin(SYP) incentral neurocytoma, respectively. CONCLUSION: The cultural characteristics can be used as a simple and reliable method for a differential diagnosis of oligodendroglioma and central neurocytoma located in the ventricular region of the brain.