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Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of chordoid glioma of the third ventricle: its tanycytic differentiation

Acta Neuropathologica volume 106, pages 176–180 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

A chordoid glioma in the third ventricle was studied immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally. In this report, special attention is paid to the histogenesis in relation to the pathological appearance and unique anatomic location of this tumor. Light microscopic and immunohistochemical findings were similar to those reported previously. Ultrastructurally, microvilli were frequently seen, but three types of abnormal cilia were rarely observed. Basement membrane around the tumor cells and microvessels was extensive. Poorly to moderately developed intermediate (adherent) junctions were frequently seen. Resemblance of these ultrastructural features of the tumor to embryonic tanycytes suggests the tanycytic differentiation of chordoid glioma. Neuroradiologically, all of the previously reported cases of chordoid gliomas seem to arise in the anterior part of the third ventricular floor. This region includes the lamina terminalis, infundibular recess and median eminence, which corresponds to a tanycyte-rich area. These findings suggest a tanycytic origin of chordoid glioma.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. T. Hishima and Ms. K. Arakawa for technical assistance.

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  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Fukui Medical University, 23 Shimoaizuki, Yoshida-gun, Matsuoka-cho, 910-1193, Fukui, Japan

    Kazufumi Sato, Toshihiko Kubota, Masaki Ishida, Kazuhiko Yoshida, Hiroaki Takeuchi & Yuji Handa

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  1. Kazufumi Sato
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  2. Toshihiko Kubota
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  3. Masaki Ishida
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  4. Kazuhiko Yoshida
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  5. Hiroaki Takeuchi
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  6. Yuji Handa
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Correspondence to Kazufumi Sato.

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Sato, K., Kubota, T., Ishida, M. et al. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of chordoid glioma of the third ventricle: its tanycytic differentiation. Acta Neuropathol 106, 176–180 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-003-0713-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-003-0713-2

Keywords

  • Chordoid glioma
  • Ependyma
  • Tanycyte
  • Abnormal cilia
  • Intermediate junction