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

• Published in: Journal of neuro-oncology Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 285 - 291
• Main Authors: VAZ, R, BORGES, N, CRUZ, C, AZEVEDO, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.02.1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Brain cancer; Brain Edema - etiology; Brain Edema - pathology; Brain Edema - physiopathology; Brain Neoplasms - complications; Brain Neoplasms - physiopathology; Brain Neoplasms - ultrastructure; Capillary Permeability; Cytoplasm; Edema; Endothelial cells; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Endothelium, Vascular - ultrastructure; Euchromatin; Female; Glutaraldehyde; Humans; Light microscopy; Male; Medical sciences; Membrane permeability; Meningioma - complications; Meningioma - physiopathology; Meningioma - ultrastructure; Middle Aged; Morphology; Neurology; Osmium; Peritoneum; Permeability; Surgery; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Vascular permeability factor; Human; Nervous system diseases; Pathogenesis; Electron microscopy; Blood brain barrier; Cerebral disorder; Pathology; Central nervous system disease; Tumor; Blood capillary; Cerebral edema; Meningioma; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0167-594X; 1573-7373
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1005874926358

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.