Glioblastomas are high grade astrocytic tumors and current histology criteria does not explain the longer survival in some cases. Presence of oligodendroglial component has been suggested as possible marker for better outcome by the international WHO Working Group of experts and by the proponents of the Sainte-Anne Hospital Classification (2000). The latter also states that a neuronal component is associated with better survival. The aim of this study was to analyze a series of 40 patients with tumors classified as glioblastomas based on the WHO criteria, in order to identify: the presence of an oligodendroglial component, using morphologic criteria; the presence of a neuronal component, using immunohistochemical markers (antibodies anti-neurofilament and synaptofisin). The histological and immunohistochemical findings were correlated with patients' survival and other variables of possible prognostic significance were also studied. Oligodendroglial component was identified in 11 cases and neuronal component in 7. Despite the small number of patients studied, this review detected a longer survival in patients with oligodendroglial component. The significance of expression of neuronal markers in malignant gliomas is still to be confirmed, with the evaluation of larger series.
glioblastomas; oligodendroglial component; glioneuronal tumors; prognosis
