Secretory meningioma: A diagnostic pitfall.

Context: Secretory meningioma is a rare subtype of meningiomas, displaying epithelial and secretory differentiation of meningothelial cells. It has unique radiological, morphological, and immunohistochemical features, but runs a benign course. Radiological picture because of the variable degrees of peritumoral edema can be confused with aggressive neoplasms. Morphologically, it is diffi cult to distinguish secretory meningioma from other tumors having a clear cell appearance and aggressive clinical behavior. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis over a period of 16 years (1997-2012) brought out fi ve cases diagnosed as secretory meningioma. The slides were restained and subject to special stains and immunohistochemistry and the clinical details were retrieved. Results: On histopathology, the tumors showed a characteristic vacuolated appearance due to the presence of variably sized intracytoplasmic lumina. Another unique feature was the presence of hyaline inclusions within these intracytoplasmic lumina and in the intercellular spaces. These inclusions were periodic acid-Schiff positive diastase-resistant, yellowish-orange on Elastic Van Giesson stain and strongly carcinoembryonic antigen positive. Conclusion: Owing to its rarity and unique morphology secretory meningioma poses a diagnostic challenge to the pathologists. As this tumor follows a benign course, it is crucial to correctly diagnose this entity to avoid unnecessary over treatment.

Cytologic Features of Secretory Meningioma in Squash Preparation: A Case Report / 대한세포병리학회지

Secretory meningioma is a distinct subtype of meningioma. We describe the cytologic features of a secretory meningioma on squash preparations, in comparision with other cytologic mimickers. A 54-year-old woman presented with hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, and headache for seven years. A brain MRI study revealed a 4.5 cm sized mass in the cerebellopontine angle, which showed homogenous signal intensity in T2-weighted image. The intraoperative squash smear showed some well-defined, thin rimmed intracytoplasmic inclusions, containing a finely granular eosinophilic core among less cohesive meningiomatous cells. Histologic sections revealed a meningothelial meningioma with scattered inclusions, with periodic acid-Schiff, carcinoembryonic antigen, and cytokeratin positivity. Identification of characteristic intracytoplasmic inclusions is helpful for diagnosing secretory meningiomas. On squash preparations, differential diagnoses included tumors with inclusions or cytoplasmic vacuolizations, such as metastatic mammary infiltrating ductal carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and clear cell ependymoma, oligodendroglioma, hemangioblastoma, chordoma, and other variants of meningiomas (clear cell, xanthomatous, microcytic, and chordoid variants). In addition, the possibilities of glioma with eosinophilic granular body, and metastatic tumors from mammary infiltrating ductal carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma in meningioma should be considered.

Secretory Meningioma with Elevated Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen

A 57-year old woman is diagnosed with a cavernous sinus meningioma, which is accompanied by an elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The pathological findings revealed a secretory meningioma containing numerous pseudopsammoma bodies that tested strongly periodic acid-Schiff positive. Secretory meningioma is a rare histological variant that is characterized by a unique epithelial differentiation of meningothelial cells resulting in the production of hyaline inclusions. Although the increased preoperative serum CEA level is not a confirmative tool for secretory meningioma, it appears to be a useful marker for post-treatment follow-up or for detecting a tumor recurrence.

Secretory meningioma: a case report with histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis

Secretory meningioma have been described as a distinct variant of meningioma based on their histologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of epithelial and secretory differentiation of meningothelial cells with accumulation of secretory material in the form of hyaline inclusion. Secretory meningioma is also a benign tumor having similar biological behaviour to that of typical meningiomas: hence, it is important for it to be recognized and diagnosed correctly to avoid unnecessary radiation and chemotherapy. Here we present a case of secretory meningioma with typical morphologic features. The patient was a 56-year-old woman with bilateral visual disturbance. A well-circumscribed mass was present in the left frontal lobe of cerebrum with surrounding edema. The tumor was composed of whorls of meningothelial cells and abundant intra- and extracellular eosinophilic hyaline inclusions which showed immunoreactivity for epithelial membrane antigen(EMA) and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA). Ultrastructural features also supported epithelial and secretory differentiation of tumor cells.

Secretory Meningioma: Report of 2 cases

The secretary meningioma is a distinct variant of meningioma that revealed characteristic light microscopic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of epithelial and secretary differentiation, which was named as a distinct subtype of meningioma by Alguacil-Garcia et al in 1986. We experienced 2 cases of secretary meningioma. One was a 53-year-old female who had suffered from sudden onset of dizziness for I day. The computerized tomography revealed a sharply marginated well enhanced mass in temporal lobe. The other was a 59-year-old female who had suffered from dizziness for 8 years. The computerized tomography revealed a well demarcated lobulated mass in petrosal ridge. In both cases, multiple hyaline inclusions were scattered in the background of meningothelial meningioma. They were PAS positive, diastase resistant, stained yellow with van Gieson, and did not stain with reticulin in contrast to Psammoma bodies. The immunohistochemistry revealed positive reaction for EMA, CEA, a-FP and cytokeratin. T'he electron microscopic study revealed interdigitation with desmosomes and abundant intracellular lumina. They were lined by numerous microvilli and filled with granular material which was composed of electron dense homogenous material, me branous material, and small membrane-bound vesicles. Microvilli were filled with electron dense material identical to the material in the lumina, and some of them were interconnected with electron dense material in the lumina. It was concluded that secretary activity of the meningothelial cells and degenerated microvilli were involved in the pathogenesis of hyaline inclusions.

Secretory Meningioma: A case report

Secretory meningioma is now a distinctive subtype of mostly meningotheliomatous type of meningioma, which was first defined by Alguacil-Garcia et al. It shows characteristic light-microscopic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical features of epithelial and secretory differentiation of meningothelial cells with accumulation of secretory material in the from of hyaline inclusions. A 38-year-old female presented with headache for about 5 months. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a round multilobated mass, measuring 4x4x3 cm, in the right inferior frontal lobe near the skull base, with surrounding brain edema. Histologically, the tumor basically showed a pattern of meningotheliomatous meningioma but tended to deposit eosinophilic homogeneous material both in the intracellular and extracellular spaces. The shape was globular intracellularly and of variable shape and often conglomerated extracellularly. Histochemical stains revealed the material not of psammomatous but of pseudopsammomatous proteinaceous nature. On electron microscopy, there was no intracellular lumen with secretion but granular electron-dense material of variable size accumulated in the degenerated endoplasmic reticulums, suggestive of proteinaceous secretion.