Pontine neurocytoma

Abstract

A case of neurocytoma arising in the rostral pontine region of an 18 year old man is reported. The patient developed a right trochlear nerve palsy and was shown to have a well circumscribed, contrast enhancing mass on magnetic resonance imaging. The tumour was characterised histologically by a uniform population of medium sized round nuclei and slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm or occasional perinuclear halos, with delicate branching capillaries, patches of fibrillary matrix, and occasional perivascular pseudorosettes. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated strong reactivity for synaptophysin in the fibrillary processes and cytoplasm of tumour cells. The present tumour is an exceptional case of neurocytoma arising in the pens.