Pap stain: Medium power
Cluster of ependymal cells with oval, elongated nuclei. Compare with lymphocytes in the background
Pap stain: High power
Cluster of ependymal cells with eccentrically located round to oval nuclei
Pap stain: High power
Single ependymal cell showing binucleation
Features
• Most common primary tumor of spinal cord
• Predominantly seen in children and adolescents
• Differentiate from normal ependymal cells (based on cellularity and clinical history)
• Small cuboidal cells in clusters
• Predominantly bland
• Moderate vacuolated cytoplasm
• May have intracytoplasmic lumens
• Nuclei small oval and eccentrically located
• Occasional bi/multinucleation
• May have nuclear grooves
• Chromatin vesicular
• Small nucleoli
• Watson CW et al. Acta Cytol. 1977 Jan-Feb;21(1):40-7.