Walsh & Hoyt: Tumors of Neurons

Neuroblasts develop from the germinal cells of the medullary epithelium of the human embryo and, by progressive stages of differentiation, eventually become fully developed, mature ganglion cells. Tumors of the CNS may develop from these cells during any stage of their differentiation. Tumors that are derived from relatively primitive, poorly differentiated cells are neuroblastomas. Medulloblastomas and medulloepitheliomas used to be part of this group, but they have been subsequently classified as embryonal tumors. Tumors in which adult neurons are the principal neoplastic elements are neurocytomas and gangliocytomas. Tumors that are composed of both neuronal and glial cells in various stages of maturity are gangliogliomas.