Solitary fibrous tumor of the spinal cord.

We report a case of primary solitary fibrous tumor occurring in the intramedullary thoracic spinal cord in a 47-year-old man. The tumor predominately consisted of spindle cells separated by abundant collagen; a few areas of hemangiopericytomatous morphology were also present. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The tumor was reactive to vimentin and CD34 but was negative for glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), S-100, smooth muscle actin, epithelial membrane antigen, HMB-45, myelin basic protein, and keratin; ultrastructural examination showed fairly undifferentiated cells within a collagenous matrix, few tight junctions, and sparse extravascular basement membrane. The occurrence of this tumor within the spinal cord parenchyma and in other extraserosal sites emphasizes the current belief that solitary fibrous tumors arise from mesenchymal tissues and are not restricted to the pleura and other serosal surfaces. Furthermore, solitary fibrous tumor is an entity that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of spindle cell central nervous system neoplasms.

Giant glioependymal cyst resembling holoprosencephaly on prenatal ultrasound: case report and review of the literature.

We report the earliest in utero presentation of a 'giant' glioependymal cyst detected on routine prenatal ultrasound at 22 weeks estimated gestational age. The clinicopathologic features of these rare lesions are reviewed as well as previous reports of glioependymal cysts detected in utero. The effects of large intracranial cysts on neurodevelopment are discussed as well as the differential diagnosis of infantile intracranial cysts and therapeutic alternatives.

Tumoral calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease mimicking a cervical spine neoplasm: case report.

A case of tumoral calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease involving the upper cervical spine is reported. It presented clinically, radiographically, and by preliminary intraoperative pathological evaluation as a possible malignant soft tissue tumor. An aggressive resection of the lesion was performed. This case differs from previous reports of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease of the cervical spine by the size, location, and radiographic appearance of the lesion. We suggest that radical surgical procedures should not be performed without consideration of this diagnosis in lesions with similar presentations. A brief review of spinal and tumoral calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition is presented.

Utility of postmortem magnetic resonance imaging in clinical neuropathology.

Over 200 brains were examined by postmortem magnetic resonance imaging to determine the utility of this imaging procedure as an adjunct to the standard postmortem examination of the brain and spinal cord. One unembalmed cadaver was also studied using a conventional 1.5-tesla (T) field-strength unit, and three formalin-fixed sections of the hippocampus were imaged using a high field-strength (7.0-T) prototype imaging system. The postmortem magnetic resonance images proved to be an invaluable aid that complemented the standard pathologic examination of the brain and spinal cord. The compelling advantages of this postmortem radiographic procedure included the three-dimensional aspects of the images; the ability to detect mineral (ie, iron) deposits; small focal lesions such as hemorrhages or infarcts; and the ability to evaluate the extent of cerebral edema. For the same reasons, as well as its archival potential for documenting the topographic distribution of pathologic processes, this technique has great promise for forensic cases. High field-strength (7.0-T) imaging brought the resolution of magnetic resonance to the microscopic level and reaffirmed the potential value of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnostic and investigative studies in which both the histologic and fine radiologic features of lesions are of interest.

Ectopic immature renal tissue in a lumbosacral lipoma: pathologic and radiologic findings.

Ectopic immature renal tissue was found in a lumbosacral subcutaneous lipoma with intradural extension in a 6-day-old female with spina bifida. No additional neurologic or renal anomalies were found. Ectopic renal tissue is an extremely rare finding. Histopathologic and MRI results from this case are presented and the possible significance of ectopic renal tissue in relation to the origin of extrarenal Wilms' tumors is discussed.