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Primary intrathoracic meningioma: histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of two cases
1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Italy. monica.falleni@unimi.it
Abstract:
Meningiomas are common, usually benign slow-growing neoplasms of the central nervous system thought to arise from meningocytes capping arachnoid villi. Primary ectopic meningiomas are exceedingly rare extracranial and extraspinal tumors of controversial origin; they are usually limited to the head and neck region or to the paravertebral soft tissues. Only one mediastinal ectopic meningioma and few pulmonary ectopic meningiomas have been described in the literature until now. Because of their rarity and their intriguing pathogenesis, we report here a second case of primary mediastinal meningioma and an additional case of primary pulmonary meningioma. Their possible origin and differential diagnosis are discussed.
Insights
This study reports two rare cases of ectopic meningiomas, one in the mediastinum and one in the lung. These findings contribute to understanding the origins and diagnosis of these uncommon central nervous system tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Meningiomas are common central nervous system tumors arising from meningocytes.
- Primary ectopic meningiomas are rare, extracranial tumors with controversial origins, typically found in the head, neck, or paravertebral regions.
Observation:
- This report details a second case of a primary mediastinal ectopic meningioma.
- An additional case of a primary pulmonary ectopic meningioma is also presented.
Findings:
- The study expands the literature on rare ectopic meningiomas, presenting two distinct cases.
- The findings provide further insight into the occurrence of these tumors outside the central nervous system.
Implications:
- Further research into the pathogenesis of ectopic meningiomas is warranted.
- Accurate differential diagnosis is crucial for managing these rare tumors.
