Details
Disease Category
Gender
Age
38 years
Organ System/Discipline
Diagnosis
Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma
Clinical History
38-year-old woman with longstanding headaches and complex partial seizures. Neuroimaging shows left fronto-temporal mass lesion.
Case Discussion
Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a localized astrocytoma primarily affecting children and young adults and located in a superficial location. Its favourable prognosis classifies it as WHO grade II. Microscopically, the tumour is characterized by pleomorphic and lipidized (xanthomatous) cells with a reticulin-rich background that also contains eosinophilic granular bodies and perivascular inflammation. Immunohistochemistry shows GFAP, S100, and CD34 reactivity and variable reactivity for neuronal markers. BRAF V600E mutation is present in about 2/3 of cases.
Image Contributors
Gao, A., Munoz, D.
Cite
Gao, A., Munoz, D. Brain, Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. Digital Laboratory Medicine Library, Dept of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto. Published
. Accessed December 17, 2025. https://dev.dlml.cflabs.ca/image/brain-pleomorphic-xanthoastrocytoma-lmp64152