Spinal cord, Tanycytic giant-cell ependymoma

Ependymomas are generally slow-growing tumours of children and young adults and are composed of neoplastic ependymal cells; they are classified as WHO grade II. This unusual case combines histopathological features of two rare ependymoma variants: tanycytic and giant cell. Tanycytic ependymomas are usually found in the spinal cord with spindled, bipolar tumour cells arranged in fascicles and may be confused with pilocytic astrocytoma. Giant cell ependymoma is distinguished by the presence of giant cells. Both variants retain the usual ependymal immunophenotype (GFAP, S100, dot-like or luminal surface EMA positivity).