뇌종양세포의 미세형태학적 연구

Ultrastructural Studies of the Brain Tumors

To investigate ultrastructural characteristics of cancer cells of the nervous system, 25 cases; i.e. astrocytoma(9), oligodendroglioma(1), medulloblastoma(1), meningioma(5), pinealoma(2) and pituitary adenomas(7). The common findings were marked irregularity of nuclear membrane with pronounced infoldings, clumping of heterochromatin along inner nuclear membrane, enlargement of nucleolus, and frequent observations of nuclear bodies and nuclear inclusions. But these findings are also the signs that can be observed in hyperactive cells. Thus, ultrastructural characteristics of cancerous nucleus are the great variability of nuclear size, shape and composition. but none of them appear to be specific. Among cytoplasmic organelles, massive fibrils are characteristic of astrocytoma and meningiomas, cytoplasmic protofibrils such as glial process and microvesicles in oligodendroglioma, secretory granules are characteristic in pituitary adenomas, and fine filamentous fibrils and desmosomes are characteristic of fibroblastic type of meningioma. Intercellular relationships and cell membrane specialization are important features in the differential diagnosis of various undifferentiated tumors. The frequent resolution of difficult diagnosis problems by electron microscopy outweighs the disadvantages of this technique, such as the expense and time required.