[Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor]

Abstract

The dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor is a benign central nervous system neoplasm of children and young adults manifesting almost exclusively in complex partial seizures. The authors report the case of an 8-year-old boy presenting with characteristic clinical and radiologic features who subsequently underwent surgery. Light microscopic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural traits of the tumor are described demonstrating pluripotential differentiation of tumor cells and architectural features suggesting a dysontogenic lesion. A brief literature review on the biology and histologic diagnosis of the dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor is provided. Although this uncommon tumor accounts for only a minority of intracranial neoplasms, its pathogenetic role has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of temporal lobe epilepsies. This is the first report on this recently described, rare neoplastic condition in Hungary.