[Cytodiagnosis of central nervous system tumours : Comparative study of cytological (CSF) and histological results.]

From a group of 52 tumours of the CNS it was possible to make a study of 35 (10 primary and 25 metastatic) to see if the nature of the neoplasm could be established from an examination of the cells of the CSF, comparing the results with those obtained by histological examination of the tumour tissues. There are very few dependable criteria to be found in the cells sedimented from the CSF (secretory activity; degree of differentiation) so, generally, only a determination as to whether the tumour is primary or metastatic, and if epithelial or mesodermal, can be made. Organ specificity can be identified only as regards the metastatic hypernephromas and thyroid carcinomas.