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Meningiomas differentiating to arachnoid trabecular cells: a proposal for histological subtype "arachnoid trabecular
1Department of Neurosurgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Abstract:
Three cases of meningiomas which had abundant small vacuoles in the tumor tissue are reported. By electron microscopy, the tumor cells exhibited long and thin processes, the tips of which were united by desmosomes. The tumor tissue was revealed to have wide extracellular spaces which corresponded to the vacuoles observed by light microscopy. In previous literature, various terms have been used when referring to this meningioma, such as microcystic meningioma or vacuolated meningioma. Since the ultrastructure of the tumor showed similarity to that of normal arachnoid trabecular cells, we propose to call the tumor "arachnoid trabecular cell meningioma" denoting its morphological nature clearly.
Insights
This study reports three cases of a rare meningioma subtype characterized by abundant small vacuoles. Researchers propose renaming it "arachnoid trabecular cell meningioma" based on its unique ultrastructure.
Area of Science:
- Neuropathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Meningiomas are tumors arising from the meninges.
- A subtype characterized by microcysts or vacuoles has been described using various terms.
- Previous classifications lack a clear morphological designation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report three cases of a specific meningioma subtype.
- To elucidate the ultrastructural features of this meningioma.
- To propose a new, morphologically descriptive name for this tumor type.
Main Methods:
- Light microscopy was used to observe tumor tissue.
- Electron microscopy was employed to analyze cellular ultrastructure.
- Comparison with normal arachnoid trabecular cells was performed.
Main Results:
- Tumor tissue exhibited abundant small vacuoles.
- Electron microscopy revealed tumor cells with long, thin processes connected by desmosomes.
- Wide extracellular spaces corresponding to vacuoles were identified.
Conclusions:
- The ultrastructure of the reported meningiomas resembles normal arachnoid trabecular cells.
- The term "arachnoid trabecular cell meningioma" is proposed to accurately reflect the tumor's morphology.
- This new nomenclature aims to clarify classification and understanding of this meningioma variant.