Neuropathology Glossary

Pathological calcium deposits that form in damaged or necrotic brain tissue, appearing as basophilic deposits.

Mutant epidermal growth factor receptor variant commonly found in glioblastomas, lacking exons 2-7.

Pink-staining intracellular protein aggregates visible in routine histological sections, often indicating neurodegenerat...

A brain tumor arising from ependymal cells that line the ventricles and central canal of the spinal cord.

A mixed glial-neuronal tumor composed of neoplastic neurons and glial cells, often presenting with seizures.

Enlarged astrocyte with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, indicating reactive change or low-grade glioma.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein, an intermediate filament specific to astrocytes used as a diagnostic marker.

A neurofibrillary tangle that persists after the death of its host neuron, appearing as an extracellular structure.

The most aggressive primary brain tumor (WHO grade IV), characterized by rapid growth and poor prognosis.

Pathological changes in hippocampal neurons characterized by cytoplasmic vacuoles containing central granules.

Vascular tumor of the central nervous system arising from pericytes around capillaries, now classified as solitary fibro...

Iron-containing phagocytic cells that indicate previous hemorrhage or chronic bleeding in brain tissue.

Eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions containing actin filaments, associated with aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 enzyme, whose mutation status is crucial for brain tumor classification.

Laboratory technique using antibodies to detect specific proteins in tissue sections for diagnostic purposes.

Laboratory technique using antibodies to detect specific proteins in tissue sections, essential for neuropathological di...

Acute morphological alterations in neurons following hypoxic-ischemic injury, characterized by cell shrinkage and hypere...

Diffuse involvement of the leptomeninges by melanoma cells, either primary or metastatic.

Cytoplasmic inclusion bodies containing alpha-synuclein, characteristic of Parkinson's disease and related disorders.

Histochemical stain used to demonstrate myelin in central nervous system tissue sections.

A rare primitive neuroectodermal tumor that recapitulates the embryonic neural tube.

Benign tumor arising from meningothelial cells of the arachnoid mater, representing the most common primary intracranial...

Epigenetic silencing of the DNA repair gene MGMT, predictive of alkylating agent chemotherapy response.

Process by which resting microglia transform into reactive phenotypes in response to CNS injury or pathological stimuli.