Unusual, rod-shaped cytoplasmic inclusions (Hirano bodies) in a cerebellar hemangioblastoma

The present study reports unusual, long, tubular, rod-shaped cytoplasmic inclusions found in the stromal cells of a cerebellar hemangioblastoma, associated with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. These inclusions have two layers of circular, laminated filaments, and longitudinally arranged filaments; and appear similar to the so-called "Hirano bodies", which have been previously found in normal and various pathologic conditions of the brain tissue, skeletal muscle cells in myopathy, and interstitial cells of the testis. A review of previous ultrastructural studies of cerebellar hemangioblastoma shows several different types of cytoplasmic inclusions, but none are found to be identical to the present report.