Mesenchymal Non-Meningothelial Tumors of the CNS: Evolving Molecular Landscape and Implications for Neuroradiologists

ABSTRACT

The World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (WHO CNS5) significantly revised the terminology and diagnostic criteria of “mesenchymal non-meningothelial” tumors of CNS to better align with the classification of these soft tissue tumors outside the CNS. The CNS chapter only covers the entities with distinct histological or molecular characteristics that occur exclusively or primarily in the CNS. These tumors usually arise from the meninges and are rarely intraparenchymal in origin, mainly in the supratentorial compartment. These tumors are grouped into three main categories: soft tissue, chondro-osseous, and notochordal. Soft tissue tumors, the largest group, are further divided into fibroblastic, vascular, and skeletal muscle subtypes. Notably, a new subcategory for "tumors of uncertain differentiation" has been introduced, encompassing three new histomolecular entities: FET::CREB fusion-positive, CIC-rearranged sarcoma, and primary intracranial sarcoma, DICER1-mutant. Emerging entities like dural angioleiomyomas and spindle cell neoplasms with NTRK-rearrangements have been reviewed, although not introduced in WHO CNS5. Given the often non-specific histology and immunophenotype of mesenchymal nonmeningothelial tumors of uncertain differentiation, molecular techniques have become indispensable for accurate diagnosis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of primary mesenchymal non-meningothelial CNS tumors, including their clinical, radiological, histopathological, and molecular characteristics and treatment strategies.

ABBREVIATIONS: ALK: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase; ATF1: activating transcriptase factor-1; CREB: cAMP response element-binding protein; CREM: cAMP response element modulator; CIC: Capicua transcriptional receptor; EWSR1: Ewing sarcoma RNA binding protein; FUS: fused in sarcoma; NAB2: nerve growth factor-inducible protein A binding protein 2; STAT6: signal transducer and activator of transcription 6; WHO: World Health Organization WHO CNS5: World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System, fifth edition.