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Expression of podoplanin and calretinin in meningioma: an immunohistochemical study
Masayuki Shintaku1, Tomoko Honda, Tomomi Sakai
1Department of Pathology, Osaka Red Cross Hospital, Tennoji, Osaka 543-8555, Japan. masa-s@sings.jp
Abstract:
Meningioma is derived from arachnoid cells covering the surface of the brain and spinal cord, and it has characteristics shared by mesothelioma arising from the pleura and peritoneum in that it takes an epithelioid appearance despite its mesenchymal origin. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin and calretinin, both of which are well-known markers of mesothelioma, in 24 surgical cases of meningioma of various types. In most cases, a linear immunoreactivity for podoplanin was found along the cell surface of most neoplastic cells. An intracytoplasmic, finely granular, or diffuse immunoreactivity was also noted in some cells. These findings corresponded well to immunoreactivity for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), but immunoreactivity for podoplanin was more crisp or sharply delineated and clear compared with that for EMA. These findings indicate that podoplanin can be used as an immunohistochemical marker that is equivalent to EMA in the differential diagnosis of meningioma. However, most meningiomas did not contain calretinin-immunoreactive cells, a finding that differs from the diffuse immunoreactivity seen in mesothelioma.
Insights
Podoplanin is a reliable marker for diagnosing meningioma, similar to epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). Unlike mesothelioma, meningiomas typically lack calretinin expression, aiding in differential diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Surgical Pathology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Meningiomas, originating from arachnoid cells, exhibit epithelioid features.
- Distinguishing meningioma from other tumors like mesothelioma is crucial.
- Mesothelioma markers, podoplanin and calretinin, were investigated in meningioma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate podoplanin and calretinin as immunohistochemical markers for meningioma.
- To compare podoplanin expression with epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) in meningioma.
- To assess the utility of these markers in the differential diagnosis of meningioma.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of 24 surgical meningioma cases.
- Detection of podoplanin and calretinin expression.
- Comparison of staining patterns with epithelial membrane antigen (EMA).
Main Results:
- Podoplanin showed linear cell surface immunoreactivity in most meningiomas, similar to EMA.
- Podoplanin staining was often sharper and more delineated than EMA.
- Calretinin expression was largely absent in meningiomas, contrasting with mesothelioma.
Conclusions:
- Podoplanin is a valuable immunohistochemical marker for meningioma diagnosis, comparable to EMA.
- Podoplanin offers distinct staining characteristics compared to EMA.
- The absence of calretinin in meningiomas aids in differentiating them from mesothelioma.
