Papillary Tumor of the Pineal Region: Ultrastructural Study of a Case

Abstract

Papillary tumor of the pineal region (PTPR) is a recently classified neuroepithelial tumor for which there has been little comprehensive ultrastructural study. Here, we describe the radiographic, intraoperative, histologic, immunohistochemical, and in-depth ultrastructural findings in a case of PTPR. This study corroborates that PTPR has concomitant ependymal, neuroendocrine, and secretory features, and details novel ultrastructural as well as immunohistochemical features that further this argument. Discrepancies with prior descriptions of PTPR are described, as these differences may reflect phenotypic variability in this rare tumor, and the ultrastructural features that relate to the putative ependymal origin of the entity are emphasized.

Keywords::

• Pineal tumor
• ependymal
• papillary
• choroid plexus

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We were glad to have the assistance of David Parham and Jan Pitha, who reviewed the manuscript and EM images, respectively. We also wish to thank Arie Perry for his review of histologic materials at the time of consultation. We were delighted to have the assistance of the skilled personnel in the histology and immunohistochemistry sections of the OU Medical Center Laboratory, particularly Ms. Jeanne Frazier.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.