Mixed oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma: fine structural and immunohistochemical studies of four cases

Four mixed oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas were investigated by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry (GFAP, NSE and MBP). GFAP-positive oligodendroglioma cells and their transitional cells to GFAP-negative oligodendroglioma cells were present, suggesting successive morphological changes of astrocytic tumor cells. NSE-positive cells, suggestive of residual neurons, also exhibited round nuclei and perinuclear halos. On electron microscopy, oligodendroglioma cells that showed glial filaments, vascular end-feet and zonulae adherentes were occasionally present. The tumor cells with or without astrocytic characteristics showed common features of cytoplasmic organelles. These findings suggest that most oligodendroglioma cells in mixed gliomas are of an astrocytic nature and that characteristic microscopic features of oligodendroglioma are of a common cellular form that can be taken by various types of cells under certain circumstances.