Summary
A cerebral neuroblastoma removed surgically from a female child is presented. Electron microscopy showed numerous neuronal processes with growth cones which are a feature of the developing neurone. In addition there were some rosettes with distinct lumina. The luminal surfaces were covered with a smooth plasma membrane lacking any surface differentiation and the lateral surface of these cells had many cell junctions (terminal bars), reminiscent of a primitive neural tube. These features in a nerve cell tumor help to substantiate it as a neuroblastoma arising from immature rather than differentiated cells.
The nature of this rare tumor is discussed.
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Yagishita, S., Itoh, Y., Chiba, Y. et al. Cerebral neuroblastoma. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 381, 1–11 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433481
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433481