Liponeurocytoma: Systematic Review of a Rare Entity

World Neurosurg. 2018 Dec:120:214-233. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.09.001. Epub 2018 Sep 8.

Abstract

Objective: Liponeurocytoma is a rare benign tumor of the central nervous system, which develops mainly in adult patients within the posterior fossa. The World Health Organization has categorized this entity in its last classification of 2016 as a benign grade II tumor. Histopathologic characteristics contain neuronal and variable astrocytic differentiation with foci of lipomatous distinction. Only a few case reports and case series have been reported and the knowledge of this tumor is limited. General treatment guidelines do not exist. The aim of this study was to analyze the literature to create treatment guidelines.

Methods: PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed to search existing online databases between January 1, 1978 and May 15, 2018.

Results: A systematic review of the literature found 73 patients (40 female, 33 male) with liponeurocytoma, in 59 of whom (80.8%) the disease occurred in the posterior fossa. The Ki-67/MIB-1 proliferation index was described in 58 patients, showing a mean value of 3.73% ± 4.01%. Follow-up was performed in 49 patients, with a median length of 52.02 ± 50.52 months, showing tumor recurrence in 14 patients (28.57%). Tumor recurrence was observed in only 1 patient (1/12, 8.33%) after adjuvant radiotherapy, whereas tumor recurrence was seen in 13/29 patients (44.83%) who did not receive adjuvant radiotherapy.

Conclusions: Liponeurocytomas are rare benign tumors, occurring mainly in the cerebellum. The therapy of choice is surgery. Postoperative radiotherapy seems to decrease the risk of tumor recurrence and should be offered to the patient.

Keywords: Adjuvant radiotherapy; Liponeurocytoma; Recurrence; Surgery; Systematic review.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Astrocytes / pathology
  • Biopsy
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / surgery
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior / pathology
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior / surgery
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lipoma / diagnosis
  • Lipoma / pathology
  • Lipoma / surgery*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / surgery
  • Neoplasm, Residual / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm, Residual / pathology
  • Neoplasm, Residual / surgery
  • Neurocytoma / diagnosis
  • Neurocytoma / pathology
  • Neurocytoma / surgery*
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant