A Rare, Mixed Neuronal-glial Tumor of the Central Nervous System |
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Sections Clinical History Imaging Studies Light Microscopy Electron Microscopy Diagnosis Discussion Reader Feedback |
Electron Microscopy |
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 Figure 7. Magnify Image |
Closely packed cell processes were admixed with the cell bodies of the neoplastic neurons (Fig 7). Many of these cell processes contained intermediate filaments. Other cell processes had rare, electron dense granules. | |
 Figure 8. Magnify Image |
The nucleus of the neoplastic neurons had a central, compact nucleolus. The heterochromatin in the nucleus was distributed in irregular clumps. | |
 Figure 9 Magnify Image |
The characteristic feature of the neoplastic neuron was the presence of numerous dense core granules that were present in the cytoplasm of these cells (Fig 9). Some small granules had a diameter range of 20 to 30 nanometers. Other granules were larger and had a maximum dimension of 60 nanometers. | |
 Figure 10. Magnify Image |
Although the majority of the neoplastic neurons had numerous dense core granules, there were only sparse granules in other neoplastic neurons. | |
| Other cytoplasmic organelles that were associated with the neoplastic neurons included mitochondria and profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum. | ||
| Diagnosis | ||
| Discussion | ||
| November 1997 Case-of-the-Month | ||