Kenneth Aldape1, Peter C Burger, Arie Perry. 1. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Pathology and Brain Tumor Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 60153, USA. kaldape@mdanderson.org
Abstract
CONTEXT: Significant interobserver variability exists with respect to the diagnosis of oligodendroglial neoplasms, especially their distinction from astrocytoma and mixed oligoastrocytoma. Combined loss of the short arm of chromosome 1 and the long arm of chromosome 19 has been shown to be both relatively specific to oligodendroglioma and, when present, a marker of improved prognosis in patients with these tumors. In addition, 1p/19q loss has been shown to be a marker of "classic" oligodendroglial histology. These findings raise questions as to the role of 1p/19q testing in clinical practice, both as a prognostic marker and as a potential diagnostic marker among infiltrating glial neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: This review discusses the issues raised above and tries to clarify the current status of 1p/19q evaluation in the diagnosis of oligodendroglioma. DATA SOURCES: Sources for this review include recent literature as well as the experience of 3 practicing neuropathologists. CONCLUSIONS: 1p/19q status is an important marker in oligodendroglioma. Loss of 1p/19q is associated with classic oligodendroglioma histology as well as improved prognosis. The combined 1p/19q marker will continue to be a clinically useful marker of prognosis and could potentially be incorporated into diagnostic criteria in the future.
CONTEXT: Significant interobserver variability exists with respect to the diagnosis of oligodendroglial neoplasms, especially their distinction from astrocytoma and mixed oligoastrocytoma. Combined loss of the short arm of chromosome 1 and the long arm of chromosome 19 has been shown to be both relatively specific to oligodendroglioma and, when present, a marker of improved prognosis in patients with these tumors. In addition, 1p/19q loss has been shown to be a marker of "classic" oligodendroglial histology. These findings raise questions as to the role of 1p/19q testing in clinical practice, both as a prognostic marker and as a potential diagnostic marker among infiltrating glial neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: This review discusses the issues raised above and tries to clarify the current status of 1p/19q evaluation in the diagnosis of oligodendroglioma. DATA SOURCES: Sources for this review include recent literature as well as the experience of 3 practicing neuropathologists. CONCLUSIONS: 1p/19q status is an important marker in oligodendroglioma. Loss of 1p/19q is associated with classic oligodendroglioma histology as well as improved prognosis. The combined 1p/19q marker will continue to be a clinically useful marker of prognosis and could potentially be incorporated into diagnostic criteria in the future.
Authors: P Darvishi; P P Batchala; J T Patrie; L M Poisson; M-B Lopes; R Jain; C E Fadul; D Schiff; S H Patel Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2020-04-23 Impact factor: 3.825