Abstract
Astrocytic tumors, particularly gliosarcoma, may contain epithelial features in
the form of trabecular, adenoid, papillary arrangement, and squamous metaplasia.
A case of gliosarcoma with unusual epithelial feature is described. The patient
was a 60-year-old male with frequent seizures. The mass was 4 cm and in the left
frontal lobe. Trabecular or rarely adenoid arrangement of neoplastic astrocytes
was present in the mucinous stroma, and there was a distinctive transition
between the trabecular area and typical anaplastic astrocytoma. The tumor cells
in the trabecular area showed positive immunostain for glial fibrillary acidic
protein, but did not react with various kinds of cytokeratin. The sarcomatous
area was undifferentiated and was not labeled by factor-VIII, desmin, and
anti-smooth muscle actin. Occurrence and histogenesis of epithelial features in
gliosarcoma are reviewed. The importance to recognize the existence of
epithelial feature in malignant astrocytic tumor is emphasized.