Walsh & Hoyt: Tumors of Neuroglia

Neuroglial cells are derived from the spongioblasts of the developing nervous system. They provide support and lining tissue for the neurons that course through the central and peripheral nervous systems. By far, the greatest numbers of neuroectodermal tumors originate from the three primary neuroglial cell types: astrocytes, oligodendroglia, and ependymal cells. In addition, some neuroectodermal tumors are composed of immature spongioblasts or elongated glia, and others are composed of cells that are neuroectodermal but are too anaplastic to allow further identification of cell type.