Angiographic characteristics of central neurocytoma suggest the origin of tumor

The authors retrospectively analyzed the angiographic findings performed in 17 cases with central neurocytoma to document the angiographic characteristics and suggested the origin of tumor based on the angiographic findings. Their medical records and radiological investigations were reviewed and cerebral angiographies were thoroughly examined in arterial, capillary, and venous phases. In ten cases, marked or moderate tumor staining was found whereas the staining was either scanty or absent in seven cases. In the ten cases showing marked or moderate tumor staining, the feeding vessels were originated from the ipsilateral carotid and/or vertebro-basilar system. In the venous phase, the ipsilateral thalamostriate vein, tortuous and enlarged, was elevated, and the internal cerebral vein was depressed. Thus, the venous angle of the ipsilateral side was widened at an irregular contour. Based on the characteristic displacement and the increased size of the associated venous system, it is suggested that the central neurocytoma might originate from a neuronal cell mass of the subependymal zone located on the floor of the lateral ventricle around the foramen of Monro rather than from the septum pellucidum.