21. Oligodendroglioma

Overview

Staining: HE

Organ: Brain

Description:

Both grey and white matter is visible, although the white matter isn’t very white anymore as it has been invaded by the tumor. The tumor also invades the grey matter, so tumor cells are visible everywhere on the slide.

There is cystic degeneration in the upper left corner.

Small cells with dark nuclei and a pale “halo” around them are characteristic for oligodendroglioma. This is called “fried egg” morphology.

Tumour cells around nerve cell bodies

Another characteristic finding is the presence of tumor cells around neurons.

The last characteristic finding is that of many small capillaries, which form a “chicken wire” morphology.

Diagnosis: Oligodendroglioma

Risk factors:

• Nothing special

Theory:

The gross morphology of an oligodendroglioma is rounded, soft and pinkish.

What is it with pathologists and naming cells after food items, anyway?

The capillaries don’t exactly form a chicken wire but there’s definitely many of them.

This shows how the chicken wire morphology should look. This picture is not from the slide; it’s taken from https://twitter.com/kusaurap/status/739442413668687872.