Clin Neuropathol
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Astroblastoma is a distinctive brain tumor when its histologic features occur in pure form. More often, the tumor pattern is seen to emerge in infiltrative astrocytic tumors. The former are rare. ⋯ Genetic study (fluorescence in situ hybridization) demonstrated no chromosomal losses or gains. Testing for abnormalities of chromosomes 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 19 and 20, including the EGFR, p16, PTEN, MDM2 and NF1 gene regions, we found the tumor to exhibit a deletion of PTEN, monosomy 17 and gains of chromosomes 19 and 20q. The latter alterations, having been reported in astroblastoma, were noted in both tumor components, thus confirming the common origin of the glial and sarcomatous elements.