Abstract

The pathology of an unusual intracranial neuroectodermal tumour of the neuron series in described and its possible histogenesis discussed. The tumour, in a child aged 5 years with an enlarged head since infancy, presented as a large solid intra-cerebral mass. Histological examination showed four types of cells; (i) the stroma, forming the bulk of the tumour, was astrocytomatous; (ii) lobules of ill defined cells bearing small circular nuclei, representing immature neuroblasts: (iii) the same of other lobules containing neurons in various stages of development; and (iv) dense clusters of cells with hyperchromatic nuclei attempting rosettes, representing an overtly malignant neuroblastoma. This tumour was designated "ganglioglio-neuroblastoma" and probably originated from a slow growing ganglioglioma.