Brain Pathology Case of the Month - July 2015


DIAGNOSIS

Ectopic adrenocortical adenoma of spinal canal, intradural, extramedullary.

DISCUSSION

The typical differential diagnosis of patients presenting with an intradural cauda equina mass includes myxopapillary ependymoma (WHO grade I) arising from the filum (much less frequently a classic ependymoma), paraganglioma, a tumor also arising from the filum terminale, and benign nerve sheath tumors, in particular schwannoma, arising from the nerve roots (10). Less frequently, meningioma, especially the rare clear cell variant, can present as cauda equina mass (12). Other tumors, including peripheral PNETs, can arise in the filum, but they are extremely rare (7). Metastases to the conus medullaris and cauda equina are exceptional. In our case, the adrenocortical nature of the tumor was suspected once the more common diagnoses of ependymoma and meningioma, possibly with oncocytic features (9), were excluded by the completely negative S100 protein, EMA, and PR immunohistochemical stains (these last two stains repeated in 2 different laboratories). Despite the presence of synaptophysin positivity, the lack of nesting (Zellballen) architecture and the abundant pale and finely granular cytoplasm of the tumor cells seemed very unusual for the diagnosis of paraganglioma. Once the possibility of adrenal cortical tissue was considered, we obtained Melan-A and inhibin which, coupled with synaptophysin, confirmed the diagnosis. The immunophenotype with Melan-A, inhibin, and synaptophysin positivity is unique to adrenal cortical neoplasms. The ultrastructural findings with abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria with tubulovesicular cristae, and scant dense core granules are also very characteristic. Despite the very bland and histologically benign appearance of the tumor, given the rarity of the lesion, it was suggested to exclude clinically the possibility of a metastatic carcinoma originating in the adrenal glands. Occurrence of ectopic adrenal tissue (cortex and medulla or cortex alone) has been reported in a variety of anatomical sites, including the central nervous system (CNS) (5, 11). Adrenocortical tumors, both benign and malignant, presumably arising from ectopic adrenocortical rests, have also been reported in the CNS, where they seem to have a predilection of the lower spinal region, either in the cord or the cauda equina (1-4, 6, 8). Clinicopathologic features of reported cases were nicely summarized in table form by Rodriguez et al. (8). Ectopic adrenal tissue is commonly found in the upper abdomen or along the path of gonadal descent with which the adrenal gland is closely associated during development. It is not clear why ectopic adrenal tissue would occur outside this area and, in particular, in the lower spinal cord region. Karikari et al found the adrenal cortical tumor, located in the conus, to be associated with a tethered cord and "cord lipoma," which led them to speculate that the premature separation of ectoderm from neuroectoderm, before neurulation was completed, may have allowed invasion of the neural groove by mesodermal tissue committed to the formation of adrenocortical tissue (2). The possibility that retroperitoneal adrenal rests may gain intradural access along the exiting nerves or entering vessels has been suggested for those tumors, which do not occur in association with dysraphism (3). Most reported cases of ectopic adrenal cortical tumors are benign and have behaved in an indolent fashion. In a case we previously reported, due to the presence of mitotic activity, we originally made a cautious diagnosis of adrenocortical tumor of indeterminate malignant potential. The pathologic, molecular, and clinical features of this tumor, including its prompt recurrence after a gross total resection, suggested a low-grade carcinoma. The patient received chemotherapy and is now well without evidence of recurrence. Ectopic adrenocortical tumors both benign and clinically aggressive may occur in the CNS and, in particular, in the distal spinal region. Although they are rare, pathologists should be aware of them and consider this possibility.

REFERENCES

  1. Cassarino DS, Santi M, Arruda A, Patrocinio R, Tsokos M, Ghatak N, et al. (2004) Spinal adrenal cortical adenoma with oncocytic featUres: report of the first intramedullary case and review of the literature. Int J Surg Pathol.12(3):259-64.
  2. Karikari IO, Uschold TD, Selznick LA, Carter JH, Cummings TJ, Friedman AH (2006) Primary spinal intramedullary adrenal cortical adenoma associated with spinal dysraphism: case report. Neurosurgery.59(5):E1144; discussion E.
  3. Kepes JJ, O'Boynick P, Jones S, Baum D, McMillan J, Adams ME (1990) Adrenal cortical adenoma in the spinal canal of an 8-year-old girl. Am J Surg Pathol.14(5):481-4.
  4. Makino K, Kojima R, Nakamura H, Morioka M, Iyama K, Shigematsu K, et al. (2010) Ectopic adrenal cortical adenoma in the spinal region: case report and review of the literature. Brain Tumor Pathol.27(2):121-5.
  5. Meyer A (1917) A congenital intracranial intradural adrenal. Anat Rec.12:43-50.
  6. Mitchell A, Scheithauer BW, Sasano H, Hubbard EW, Ebersold MJ (1993) Symptomatic intradural adrenal adenoma of the spinal nerve root: report of two cases. Neurosurgery.32(4):658-61; discussion 61-2.
  7. Pancucci G, Simal-Julian JA, Plaza-Ramirez E, Garcia-Marcos R, Mayordomo-Aranda E, Botella-Asuncion C (2013) Primary extraosseous intradural spinal Ewing's sarcoma: report of two cases. Acta Neurochir (Wien).155(7):1229-34.
  8. Rodriguez FJ, Scheithauer BW, Erickson LA, Jenkins RB, Giannini C (2009) Ectopic low-grade adrenocortical carcinoma in the spinal region: immunohistochemical and molecular cytogenetic study of a pediatric case. Am J Surg Pathol.33(1):142-8.
  9. Roncaroli F, Riccioni L, Cerati M, Capella C, Calbucci F, Trevisan C, et al. (1997) Oncocytic meningioma. Am J Surg Pathol.21(4):375-82.
  10. Wald JT (2012) Imaging of spine neoplasm. Radiol Clin North Am.50(4):749-76.
  11. Wiener MF, Dallgaard SA (1959) Intracranial adrenal gland; a case report. Arch Pathol.67:228-33.
  12. Zorludemir S, Scheithauer BW, Hirose T, Van Houten C, Miller G, Meyer FB (1995) Clear cell meningioma. A clinicopathologic study of a potentially aggressive variant of meningioma. Am J Surg Pathol.19(5):493-505.

Contributed by Caterina Giannini, MD, Kenneth C. Spengel, DO, FCAP, Patrice C. Abell Aleff, Michael Rivera, MD, John T. Wald, MD


International Society of Neuropathology