Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Fig 1.
Photomicrograph from a pilocytic astrocytoma showing brightly staining red Rosenthal fibers (arrowheads). (Hematoxylin-eosin [H&E]; original magnification, 1000×).
- Fig 2.
Drawing of the various classes and structures of intermediate filament proteins. The central rod is composed of 4 α-helical sub-domains separated by nonhelical linkers. The central rods are remarkably similar among the classes, whereas the heads and tails demonstrate considerable variability and partly contribute to tissue specificity. Most of the described mutations in Alexander disease occur in the 1A and 2A subdomains of the rod. Modified from ref. 22. With permission.
- Fig 3.
Alexander disease.
A, T2-weighted MR image demonstrates the marked hyperintensity in the cerebral white matter of a small child. The white matter of the frontal lobes is often initially involved with posterior progression as the disease advances. Cystic changes may also eventually develop. As in this case, the caudate heads, anterior putamina, and thalami are often involved, a hypointense periventricular rim on T2-weighted images frequently occurs (arrowheads), and the cavum septi pellucidi may be expanded (case courtesy of A. James Barkovich).
B, Photomicrograph from a different patient showing extensive brightly staining red Rosenthal fibers in a predominantly subpial distribution (Hematoxylin-eosin [H&E]; original magnification, 100×).
C, Photomicrograph from a different patient showing extensive brightly staining red Rosenthal fibers in a perivascular distribution (H&E; original magnification, 1000×).
Tables
Category Examples Reactive Parenchyma surrounding slowly growing, low-grade tumors Hemangioblastoma, craniopharyngioma Parenchyma surrounding cysts Syringomyelia, pineal cyst Parenchyma surrounding vascular malformations Arteriovenous malformations, cavernomas Parenchyma surrounding chronic inflammation Multiple sclerosis Neoplastic Pilocytic astrocytoma, ganglioglioma, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma Genetic/metabolic Alexander disease Note:—This table has been modified from refs. 12 and 18. With permission.
Intermediate Filament Protein Class Cell Type Acidic cytokeratin I Epithelial cells Neutral-basic cytokeratins II Epithelial cells Vimentin III Mesenchymal cells Glial fibrillary acidic protein III Astroglial cells Desmin III Muscle cells Synemin III Skeletal muscle cells Peripherin III Neurons Nestin IV CNS and muscle precursor cells Neurofilaments IV Neurons Internexin IV Neurons Lamins V Ubiquitous Filensin, phakinin Not classified Lens Transitin Not classified Radial glial cells
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