Central nervous system tumors questions with answers – Useful for NEET-SS Oncopathology, DM Histopathology, NIMHANS- Neuropathology fellowships and FRCPath-Histopathology.

1. Classic astrocytoma has which of following microscopic features?

A. Widespread concentric calcifications

B. Fibrillary astrocytes in the background of loosely structured microcysts.

C. Cells with rounded vesicular nuclei with small distinct nucleoli, perinuclear halos, chicken wire vessels

D. Microvascular proliferation and geographic necrosis

Answer: B

Explanation:

Fibrillary astrocytoma is the classic type of diffuse astrocytoma and is no longer listed as a variant

Option A: Is seen in psammomatous meningioma
Option C: Is seen in oligodendroglioma
Option D: Is seen in Glioblastoma multiforme

2. Most IDH- mutant diffuse astrocytomas have which of the following mutations?

A. R132G

B. R132L

C. R132H

D. R132S

Answer: C

Most IDH-mutant diffuse astrocytomas have
R132H mutations.

3. Which of the following statements are true regarding astrocytomas?

A. Diffuse astrocytomas do not progress to IDH-mutant glioblastoma

B. IDH-mutant diffuse astrocytoma’s and IDH-wildtype glioblastomas develop from the same precursor population

C. IDH-mutant astrocyomas have a better prognosis compared to IDH- wildtype

D. Among IDH wildtype tumours, a genotype of 7q gain and 10q loss have a favourable outcome

Answer: C

Explanation:

Option A: Diffuse astrocytomas have an intrinsic
capacity for malignant progression to
IDH-mutant anaplastic astrocytoma and
eventually to IDH-mutant glioblastoma. 

Option B: The available evidence suggests that
IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted oligodendrogliomas, IDH-mutant diffuse astrocytomas, IDH-mutant anaplastic astrocytomas, and IDH-mutant glioblasotomas develop from a distinct population of precursor cells that differ from the precursor cells of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma.

Option D: Among IDH wildtype tumours, a genotype of 7q gain
and 10q loss is associated with a particularly poor outcome.

4. For a diagnosis of gemistocytes what is The cut-off percentage of gemistocytes required?

A. 50%

B. 30%

C. 20%

D. 10%

Answer: C

Explanation:

For a diagnosis of Gemistocytic astrocytoma, gemistocytes should constitute
more than approximately 20% of all tumor cells. The presence of occasional gemistocytes in a diffuse astrocytoma
does not justify the diagnosis.

5. Which one of the following is described among one of the Secondary structures of scherer?

A. Geographic necrosis

B. Perineural satellitosis

C. Microvascular proliferation

D. Scattered dense eosinophilic structures

Answer: B

Secondary structures of Scherer, including perineuronal satellitosis, perivascular
aggregation, subpial spread and spread along the white matter tracts.

6. Most common genetic alteration associated with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma multiforme is?

A. TERT promoter mutations

B. Homozygous deletion of CDKN2A

C. Loss of chromosomes 10p

D. EGFR alterations

Answer: A

Explanation:

• TERT promoter mutations (present in ~80%
  of cases)
• Homozygous deletion of CDKN2A/CDKN2B (~60%)
• Loss of chromosomes 10p (~50%)
• EGFR alterations (~55%)
• PTEN mutations/deletion (~40%)
• TP53 mutations {25-30%) and
• PI3K mutations (~25%)

7. All of the following brain tumors show p53 mutations except?

A. Primary glioblastoma in a child

B. Primary glioblastoma in an adult

C. Giant cell glioblastoma

D. None of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Primary glioblastomas do no show p53 mutations with an exception of Primary GBM in a child and giant cell glioblastoma.

8. All of the following brain tumors are associated with BRAF mutations except?

A. Supratentorial pilocytic astrocytoma

B. Ganglioglioma

C. Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma

D. Glioblastoma

Answer: D

9. Which of the following features indicate an atypical meningioma (WHO grade II)?

A. Meningioma with 4 mitoses per 10 high-power fields

B. Meningioma with 20 mitoses per 10 high-power fields

C. Meningioma with necrosis but no other worrying features

D. Meningioma with CEA-immunopositive, PAS-positive secretory globules.

Answer: A

Explanation: Atypical meningioma (WHO grade II) is defined as having 4 or more mitoses per 10 high-power fields.
Ana plastic meningioma (WHO grade Ill) is defined as having 20 or more mitoses per 10 high-power fields.
An alternative definition of atypical meningioma (WHO grade II) require three or more of the following:
increased cellularity, small cells with high nucleocytoplasmic ratio, prominent nucleoli, sheet like growth and
necrosis. Necrosis alone is insufficient for the diagnosis.
Meningioma with CEA-immunopositive material indicates the so-called “secretory” subtype of meningioma
(WHO grade I). Such tumors may produce measurable levels of carcinoembryonic antigen in the serum)

10. True regarding small cell glioblastoma is?

A. Tumor cells show severe nuclear atypia

B. Often associated with EGFR amplification

C. Most of the tumors are IDH-mutated

D. All of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Small cell glioblastomas show little nuclear atypia, most are IDH-wild type and often EGFR amplifies.

11. Identify the variant of glioblastoma from the image?

A. Small cell glioblastoma

B. Glioblastoma with epithelial component

C. Granular cell glioblastoma

D. Adenoid glioblastoma

Answer: B

Explanation:

Cells with a granular, periodic acid Schiff-positive cytoplasm may be scattered within glioblastoma. In rare cases,
they dominate and create the impression
of a morphologically similar but unrelated
granular cell tumour of the pituitary stalk
In contrast to most glioblastomas, the granular cell variant often shows immunoreactivity
for EMA.

12. Which of the following mutations are seen in diffuse midline gliomas?

A. H3K27M

B. EGFR

C. IDH

D. TERT

Answer: A

13. Pilocytic astrocytomas occur commonly in which of the following locations in patients with neurofibromatosis type-1?

A. Frontal lobe

B. Thalamus

C. Optic nerve

D. Spinal cord

Answer: C

14. True statement about pilomyxoid astrocytoma are all except?

A. Has a monophasic architecture

B. Has a predominant myxoid background

C. Angiocentric pattern is very rare

D. Rosenthal fibers and eosinophilic bodies are very rare

Answer: C

Explanation:

In general, Pilomyxoid astrocytomas are
more aggressive and more prone to local recurrence and cerebrospinal spread
than are pilocytic astrocytomas. Angiocentric pattern is characteristic of pilomyxoid astrocytomas.

15. Identify this tumor found in the in the intraventricular location?

A. Ependymoma

B. Sub ependymal giant cell astrocytoma

C. Gemistocytic astrocytoma

D. Giant cell glioblastoma

Answer: D

SEGA cells are larger than ependymoma
Gemistocytic astrocytoma have a intraparenchymal location as compared to intraventricular location.

16. What is the WHO grade of this tumor commonly arising from cauda equina, conus medullaris or filum terminale?

A. Grade I

B. Grade II

C. Grade III

D. Grade IV

Answer: A

Explanation: Myxopapillary ependymoma is grade I

17. All of the following are subtypes of ependymoma except?

A. Clear cell

B. Papillary

C. Tancytic

D. Giant cell

Answer: D

18. All of the following are good prognostic markers of glioblastoma multiforme except?

A. Age<50 years

B. Secondary glioblastoma

C. MGMT Promoter methylation

D. Presence of necrosis

Answer: D

19. The picture is from a tumor in a 10-year old male in the lateral ventricle-the tumor cells are CK7 positive and transthyretin positive. What is the diagnosis?

A. RELA Fusion ependymoma

B. Choroid plexus papilloma

C. Astroblastoma

D. Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma

Answer: B

Explanation: Chororoid plexus papillomas are CK7 and transthyretin positive.

20. Which of the following brain tumors show dot like positivity for EMA ?

A. Medulloblastoma

B. Ependymoma

C. Diffuse astrocytoma

D. Meningioma

Answer: B

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