[Flow cytometry in the study of meningiomas. Preliminary results and attempt at clinical correlation]

Meningiomas are meningeal primitive tumors. These benign neoplasms can recur but the rate of recurrence is unknown as there is no reliable factor of predictibility. The aim of this study was to test Flow Cytometry based on clinical data and follow up in a series of meningiomas operated on in a neurosurgical department. This method allows the study of DNA content matched with the study of the cellular cycle. S cellular phase was chosen to be tested related to immunostaining with 2 proliferating markers, Ki67 and PCNA. This prospective study was carried out on neurosurgical samples, immediately frozen. On the one hand, results confirm well known discrepancies between Ki67 and PCNA immunostainings. On the other hand, two recurrent meningiomas belong to the diploid group. This is unexpected as aneuploid tumors are known to be biologically more agressive than diploid tumors.