CNS & pituitary tumors
Cysts
Glioependymal / ependymal cyst
Author: Eman Abdelzaher, M.D., Ph.D.
Last author update: 1 February 2012
Last staff update: 8 September 2020
Copyright: 2002-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: "Ependymal cyst"
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Radiology images | Case reports | Gross description | Gross images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Positive stains | Negative stains | Electron microscopy description | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Abdelzaher E. Glioependymal / ependymal cyst. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/cnstumorependymal.html. Accessed April 20th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Rare, benign intraparenchymal and often paraventricular cyst lined by simple epithelium or glial tissue, S100+ or GFAP+, resting on neuroglia (J Neuroradiol 1995;22:48)
- Usually intracranial, not midline but may affect spinal cord; may affect adult cerebellum or represent burned out pilocytic astrocytoma
- Not in communication with ventricle or CSF spaces
- Rarely ruptures and causes meningitis
- Cyst lined by glial tissue
Radiology images
Images hosted on other servers:
MR: cystic lesion of right frontal lobe
Case reports
- 15 year old boy with recurrent intramedullary cyst at C2-C3 (Neurol India 2003;51:111)
- 19 year old woman with thalamic glial cyst causing hydrocephalus due to hemorrhage (Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 1997;37:284)
- 42 year old man with clinical symptoms of expansive cerebellar lesion (J Neuroradiol 2001;28:209)
Gross description
- Resembles arachnoid cyst
Gross images
Images hosted on other servers:
Ependymal cyst
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Simple columnar or cuboidal cells, often ciliated, resting on neuroglia; no fibrous capsule
- Alternatively, wall lined by gliosis, Rosenthal fibers present, variable hemosiderin; no epithelial lining
Negative stains
Electron microscopy description
- Neuroepithelial origin
Differential diagnosis
- Endodermal cyst: CK+
