Sunday, October 21, 2012

Carrot-shaped nuclei

Headache, vomiting and weakness can be the initial manifestations of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. The nuclei of some medulloblastomas when seen under the microscope can in shape remind you of carrots – carrot-shaped nuclei.
Medulloblastomas affect the cerebellum, a part of the brain concerned with fine-tuning movements but not initiating movements. At times medulloblastoma cells may spread to other regions via the cerebrospinal fluid, which is a clear colorless fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are forms of treatment for medulloblastoma.
Reference:
Kroh H, Bidziński J . Glial differentiation in medulloblastoma. Case report. Neuropatol Pol, 1993 31(1-2):75-82. Go to reference
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Carrots, Medulloblastoma (white blob)