The fine structure of gliomatosis cerebri

The ultrastructural features of five biopsies of gliomatosis cerebri (GC) are described. Four main types of tumour cells are seen: anaplastic astrocytes poor in organelles with a variable amount of glial microfilaments; atypical oligodendrocytes with scanty cytoplasm in which microtubules are present; intermediate forms with aboundant cytoplasm rich in organelles, with microtubules and microfilaments; and small cells with round nuclei and a very scanty rim of cytoplasm. In two cases several concentrically folded cytoplasmic lamellae of glial processes were arranged either around themselves or around the perikaryon of other cells. This ultrastructural study indicates that GC is a neoplastic process of small undifferentiated elements, transitional forms of astroglia (to oligodendroglia) and anaplastic cells of astrocytic origin in all stages of development.