Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage as presentation of atypical central neurocytoma: the role of angiogenesis through the characterization of tumor endothelial cells

Histol Histopathol. 2018 Jul;33(7):665-672. doi: 10.14670/HH-11-953. Epub 2017 Dec 7.

Abstract

A 36-year-old white man presented with sudden-onset headache and rapid deterioration of consciousness. Computer tomography revealed a right capsular intra-parenchimal hemorrhage with an intraventricular component; therefore, emergency surgery was performed. Once the hematoma was evacuated, the cause of the hemorrhage was identified as a tumor mass and it was resected. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations of the surgical specimen disclosed a diagnosis of atypical central neurocytoma. By using a protocol recently set up in our laboratory, we succeeded in isolating and propagating, for the first time, human endothelial cells from central neurocytoma (CN-ECs). Different analyses revealed that isolated CN-ECs consist of a pure endothelial cell population, with the expression of endothelial markers (CD31, CD309/VEGFR2, CD105, eNOS) and with angiogenic properties, such as the uptake of LDL. Moreover, CN-ECs spontaneously organize in a vascular-like structure. The goal of this case report is to stress the need for further studies focused on understanding the causes of the onset of an intra-parenchimal hemorrhage in the presence of an atypical central neurocytoma in order to tailor treatments to each single patient and achieve the best clinical outcome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology*
  • Neurocytoma / complications*
  • Neurocytoma / pathology