Histopathology of Rosettes and Pseudorosettes
- Homer Wright Rosettes
- Originally described in neuroblastoma. Notably, found in medulloblastoma and other PNETs and also in pineoblastoma.
- Cluster of cells surround a central lumen filled with a meshwork of fibers (central neuropil-region).
- Pineocytomatous and Neurocytic rosettes are similar in appearance but are larger and more irregular.
- Flexner-Wintersteiner Rosettes
- Originally described in retinoblastoma. Also found in pineoblastoma and medulloepithelioma.
- Cluster of cells project short cytoplasmic projections into a central lumen.
- True Ependymal Rosettes
- Despite their name, they are uncommon in ependymoma.
- Cells surround a central lumen with NO fiber-rich central neuropil (NO significant central cytoplasmic projections).
- Perivascular Pseudorosettes
- Commonly found ependymoma.
- Cells surround a central vessel (rather than a lumen). Their tapered cellular processes radiate around the vessel.
- Adesina, Adekunle M., Tarik Tihan, Christine E. Fuller, and Tina Young Poussaint. Atlas of Pediatric Brain Tumors. Springer, 2016.
- Orkin, Stuart H., David E. Fisher, A. Thomas Look, Samuel Lux, David Ginsburg, and David G. Nathan. Oncology of Infancy and Childhood E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2009.
- Prayson, Richard A., and Mark L. Cohen. Practical Differential Diagnosis in Surgical Neuropathology. Springer Science & Business Media, 2000.
- Wippold, F. J., and A. Perry. “Neuropathology for the Neuroradiologist: Rosettes and Pseudorosettes.” American Journal of Neuroradiology 27, no. 3 (March 1, 2006): 488–92.
Image References
- Homer Wright Rosette
- Institute, Dr Maria Tsokos, National Cancer. Shown Is a Microscopic View of a Typical Neuroblastoma with Rosette Formation. Magnified X40. December 1993. http://visualsonline.cancer.gov/details.cfm?imageid=2593. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuroblastoma_rosettes.jpg.
- Flexner-Wintersteiner Rosette
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Retinoblastoma_rosette.jpg.
- True Ependymal Rosette
- Nephron. English: Micrograph of an Ependymoma. H&E Stain. [object HTMLTableCellElement]. Own work. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ependymoma_intermed_mag.jpg.
- Perivascular Pseudorosettes
- Jensflorian. English: Ependymoma Showing True Ependymal Rosettes besides Perivascular Pseudorosettes. October 22, 2010. Own work. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ependymoma_true_ependymal_rosettes_and_pseudorosettes.jpg.