Ultrastructural study on 37 cases of brain glioma / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Thirty-seven cases of brain glioma,confirmed by light microscopy and immuno-'histochemistry were studied with transmission electron microscopy.It was found that there were certain ultrastructural features for each type and each grade of glioma.In astrocytoma,there was certain amount of glial filaments in the tumor cells; Rosenthal fibers consisted of irregular osmiophilic masses surrounded with glial filaments,occasionally cytoplasmic annulate lamellae and intranuclear filaments could be seen,and the interstitial capillaries were characteristic.In typical oligodendroglioma,astrocytic processes containing glial filaments were quite present in different amounts.These findings suggest that observation on the ultrastructure of gliomas is of significance to establish the diagnosis,to assess the degree of differentiation,and to identify some rare structures which can reveal the essence of the tumor.In addition,ultrastructural observation is helpful for prognosis.