HISTOLOGIC CLASSIFICATION OF TUMORS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

 Tumors of neuroepithelial tissue

Astrocytic tumors
Astrocytoma (often refers to grade II astrocytoma)
Anaplastic astrocytoma (also called grade III astrocytoma)
Glioblastoma multiforme (also called grade IV astrocytoma)
Pilocytic astrocytoma (also called grade I astrocytoma)
Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma
Subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma

Oligodendroglial tumors
Oligodendroglioma
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma

Mixed gliomas
Oligoastrocytoma
Anaplastic oligoastrocytoma(also called grade III Oligoastrocytoma)

Ependymal tumors
Ependymoma
Anaplastic ependymoma
Myxopapillary ependymoma
Subependymoma

Choroid plexus tumors
Choroid plexus papillon
Choroid plexus carcinoma

Neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors
Gangliocytoma
Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor
Ganglioglioma
Anaplastic ganglioglioma
Central neurocytoma

Pineal parenchymal tumor
Pineocytoma
Pineoblastoma

Embryonal tumors
Medulloblastoma
Primitive neuroectodernal tumors   (PNETs)


Meningeal tumors
Mengingioma
Hemangiopericytoma
Melanocytic tumor
Hemangioblastoma


Germ-cell tumors
Germinoma
Embryonal carcinoma
Yolk sac (endodermal sinus) tumor
Choriocarcinorna
Teratoma
Mixed germ cell tumors


Tumors of the sellar region
Pituitary adenoma
Pituitary carcinoma
Craniopharyngioma


Metastatic tumors

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Adapted from the World Health Classification and in:  DeAngelis, L.M.  Brain tumors. N Eng J Med, Vol 344, No. 2, January 11, 2001