Cerebral edema associated with meningiomas: the role of peritumoral brain tissue

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1998

Authors

Vaz, R (Author) Other; Borges, Nuno (Author) FCNAUP; Cruz, C (Author) Other; Azevedo, I (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Neuro-Oncology

Vol. 36

Pages: 285-291

ISSN: 0167-594X

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 30 Citations

Scopus - 32 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-8KM

DOI: 10.1023/a:1005874926358

Abstract (EN): We undertook a morphological study of small pieces of peritumoral brain tissue removed from seven patients with meningiomas submitted to surgery. All patients had cerebral edema, as shown by preoperative C.T. and N.M.R.. Control specimens were obtained from five patients undergoing ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. The tissue fragments were fixed in glutaraldehyde-osmium and embedded in Epon. In semi-thin sections observed under light microscopy peritumoral endothelial cells exhibited voluminous cytoplasm and nucleus. Morphometrical evaluation confirmed that these endothelial cell nuclei were significantly larger than controls. Under the electron microscope those cells showed nuclei rich in euchromatin and cytoplasm rich in pinocytotic vesicles. The morphological changes observed suggest a process of dedifferentiation of brain peritumoral capillary cells and are compatible with an increase in permeability. Both events, which may be due to diffusion of a tumoral vascular permeability factor, favour the hypothesis that peritumoral brain tissue contributes to edema fluid that accumulates around meningiomas.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7