22. Glioblastoma

Page created on March 30, 2019. Not updated since.

Staining: HE

Organ: Brain

Description:

There are four important characteristics in glioblastomas:

  • Severe atypia
  • Many mitotic figures
  • Pseudopalisading necrosis
  • Microvascular proliferation

Microvascular proliferation is a phenomenon where the tumor contains small capillaries who are irregular and are comprised of atypical endothelial cells.

Pseudopalisading necrosis is a phenomenon where the tumor contains areas of necrosis, and this necrosis is surrounded by hypercellular regions.

Diagnosis: Glioblastoma

Risk factors:

  • Age 50 – 70

Theory:

Glioblastoma is a grade IV astrocytic tumor that is defined histologically be the four characteristics described above. It must be differentiated from anaplastic astrocytoma, a grade III astrocytic tumor. Anaplastic astrocytoma also shows severe atypia and many mitotic figures but no pseudopalisading necrosis or microvascular proliferation.

Protected Area

These images are password-protected due to copyright concerns. Please verify with a password to unlock the content. If you are a medical student in Pécs or feel like you should have access to the content for any other reason, send me an e-mail.

Leave a Reply

Inputting your name is optional. All comments are anonymous.