Summary
Electron microscopic study of 2 intracranial hemangiopericytomas and 7 meningiomas revealed fundamental morphologic differences between the 2 neoplasms. The most significant finding in hemangiopericytoma was the presence of ultrastructure features suggesting leiomyoblastic differentiation. These included characteristic fusiform intracytoplasmic and submembranous dense bodies, abundant cytoplasmic filaments, elongated cells with blunt-ended nuclei and juxtanuclear polarization of organelles. This observation is considered highly significant as an indicator of the pericytic nature of this tumor. In addition, hemangiopericytoma cells sometimes were arranged in spirals around pools of basement membrane-like material, perhaps a manifestation of the biologic capability of the cells to synthetize such material. Meningioma cells displayed as their main feature an ability to produce surface membrane specializations including interdigitations, desmosomes, zonulae adhaerentes and gap junctions. Sometimes the last 3 elements were linearly juxtaposed forming junctional complexes similar to those seen in certain epithelia. It is suggested that the characteristic whorls of meningioma are the result of cell interconnections arising from the specialized junctional attachments. Thus the distinctive morphology of the 2 neoplasms appears to derive from basic biologic properties of their elements.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bailey, P., Cushing, H., Eisenhardt, L.: Angioblastic meningiomas. Arch. Path.6, 953–990 (1928)
Battifora, H.: Hemangiopericytoma: Ultrastructural study of five cases. Cancer31, 1418–1432 (1973)
Begg, C. F., Garret, R.: Hemangiopericytoma occurring in the meninges. Case report. Cancer7, 602–606 (1954)
Brightman, M. W., Reese, T. S.: Junctions between intimately apposed cell membranes in the vertebrate brain. J. Cell Biol.40, 648–677 (1969)
Cushing, H., Eisenhardt, L.: Meningiomas. Their classification, regional behaviour, life history and surgical end results. Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C. Thomas 1938
Ferenczy, A., Richart, R. M., Okagaki, T.: A comparative ultrastructural study of leiomyosarcoma, cellular leiomyoma and leiomyoma of the uterus. Cancer28, 1004–1018 (1971)
Fisher, E. R., Davis, J. S., Lemmen, L. J.: Meningeal hemangiopericytoma. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. (Chic.)79, 40–45 (1958)
Friend, D. S., Gilula, N. B.: Variations in tight and gap junctions in mammalian tissues. J. Cell Biol.53, 758–776 (1972)
Hahn, M. J., Dawson, R., Esterly, J. A., Joseph, D. J.: Hemangiopericytoma. An ultrastructural study. Cancer31, 255–261 (1973)
Hajdu, S. I., Erlandson, R. A., Paglia, M. A.: Light and electron microscopic studies of a gastric leiomyoblastoma. Arch. Path.93, 36–41 (1972)
Kepes, J.: Electron microscopic studies of meningiomas. Amer. J. Path.39, 499–505 (1961)
Kernohan, J. W., Uihlein, A.: Sarcomas of the brain, pp. 108–119. Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C. Thomas 1962
Kruse, F.: Hemangiopericytoma of the meninges (angioblastic meningioma of Cushing and Eisenhardt). Clinicopathologic aspects and follow up studies in 8 cases. Neurology (Minneap.)11, 771–777 (1961)
Luse, S. A.: Electron microscopic studies of brain tumors. Neurology (Minneap.)10, 881–905 (1960)
Morales, A. R., Fine, G., Pardo, V., Horn, R. C.: The ultrastructure of smooth muscle tumors with a consideration of the possible relationship of glomangiomas, hemangiopericytomas, and cardiac myxomas. In: Pathology Annual, vol. 10 (ed. S. C. Sommers), pp. 65–92. New York: Appleton Century Crofts 1975
Muller, J., Mealey, J.: The use of tissue culture in differentiation between angioblastic meningioma and hemangiopericytoma. J. Neurosurg.34, 341–348 (1971)
Panner, B. J., Honig, C. R.: Filament ultrastructure and organization in vertebrate smooth muscle. Contraction hypothesis based on localization of actin and myosin. J. Cell Biol.35, 303–321 (1967)
Peace, R. J.: A congenital neoplasm of a newborn infant. Amer. J. clin. Path.24, 1272–1275 (1954)
Peña, C. E.: Intracranial hemangiopericytoma. Ultrastructural evidence of its leiomyoblastic differentiation. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)33, 279–284 (1975)
Popoff, N. A., Malinin, T. I., Rosomoff, H. L.: Fine structure of intracranial hemangiopericytoma and angiomatous meningioma. Cancer34, 1187–1197 (1974)
Pritchett, P. S., Fu, Y. S., Kay, S.: Unusual ultrastructural features of a leiomyosarcoma of the lung. Amer. J. clin. Path.63, 901–908 (1975)
Ramsey, H.: Fine structure of hemangiopericytoma and hemangioendothelioma. Cancer19, 2005–2018 (1966)
Rhodin, J. A. G.: Ultrastructure of mammalian venous capillaries, venules, and small collecting veins. J. Ultrastruct. Res.25, 452–500 (1968)
Rhodin, J. A. G.: Histology. A text and atlas. New York: Oxford University Press 1974
Rubinstein, L. J.: Tumors of the central nervous system, second series. Washington, D.C.: A.F.I.P. 1972
Russell, D. S., Rubinstein, L. J.: Pathology of tumours of the nervous system, third edition. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins 1971
Stout, A. P., Murray, M. R.: Hemangiopericytoma. A vascular tumor featuring Zimmermann's pericytes. Ann. Surg.116, 26–33 (1942)
Tobon, H., Murphy, A. I., Salazar, H.: Primary leiomyosarcoma of the vagina. Light and electron microscopic observations. Cancer32, 450–457 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peña, C.E. Meningioma and intracranial hemangiopericytoma. Acta Neuropathol 39, 69–74 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690387
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690387