Explore UAB

Case History

A 28-year-old man with a history of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) experienced a five month history of progressive bilateral upper extremity hemiparesis. Neuroimaging studies demonstrated a 4 cm enhancing intramedullary mass located at cervical spinal level 3 (C3).

1) The most common intramedullary spinal neoplasm in this clinical setting is:

1.        Schwannoma, WHO grade I
2.        Pilocytic astrocytoma, WHO grade I
3.        Diffuse astrocytoma, WHO grade II, IDH1 mutant
4.        Anaplastic astrocytoma, WHO grade III, IDH1 wild-type
5.        Ependymoma, WHO grade II 

2) The characteristic location of the NF2 gene is in chromosome region:

1.        22q12 
2.        2
3.        3p25-26
4.        9q
5.        16p

Answers:

Question 1: E. Ependymoma, WHO grade II

Question 2: B. 2

Case contributed by: Kenneth Fallon, M.D., Associate Professor, Neuropathology