Tumours of the Nervous System

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

   PDF

2. Astrocytoma

   • T. H. Moss

   Pages 1-8

3. Oligodendroglioma

   • T. H. Moss

   Pages 9-15

4. Ependymoma

   • T. H. Moss

   Pages 17-23

5. Myxopapillary Ependymoma

   • T. H. Moss

   Pages 25-29

6. Subependymoma

   • T. H. Moss

   Pages 31-36

7. Malignant Glioma

   • T. H. Moss

   Pages 37-41

8. Choroid Plexus Papilloma

   • T. H. Moss

   Pages 43-49

9. Malignant Choroid Plexus Papilloma

   • T. H. Moss

   Pages 51-55

10. Primary Pineal Tumours

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 57-65

11. Medulloblastoma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 67-73

12. Central Neuroblastoma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 75-80

13. Ganglioglioma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 81-84

14. Meningioma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 85-91

15. Vasoformative Meningioma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 93-97

16. Schwannoma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 99-105

17. Neurofibroma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 107-111

18. Haemangioblastoma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 113-118

19. Germinoma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 119-122

20. Craniopharyngioma

    • T. H. Moss

    Pages 123-127

Since the time of the earliest electron microscopic studies on tumours of the human nervous system. undertaken over 20 years ago by Luse and her colleagues. there have been considerable advances in our understanding of these neoplasms. Tissue culture and specific antibodies to tumour antigens are two of the techniques which have greatly aided such advances. enabling much to be learned about the biological properties and underly­ ing nature of all types of nervous system tumour. Electron microscopy. however. has continued to prove of considerable value in the investigation of these tumours. and the technological advances of the last two decades have dramatically improved the resolution and overall quality of the ultrastructural images obtained. In clinical neuropathology. such improvements have encouraged a more widespread use of the electron microscope in the diagnosis of human nervous system tumours. alongside antibody techniques and more conventional histological methods. Although ultrastructural examination is often not strictly necessary to identify well-differentiated tumours such as astrocytomas or choroid plexus papillomas. study of the electron microscopic features in such cases fre­ quently proves useful in the diagnosis of their more malignant counterparts. Thus the recognition of astrocytic filaments in anaplastic gliomas. or of cilia in pleomorphic choroid plexus carcinomas. may enable a diagnosis to be made in cases where there is insufficient differentiation for the tumours to be recognised at light microscopic level.

• carcinoma
• cognition
• diagnosis
• electron microscopy
• nervous system
• neuropathology
• pathology
• tissue
• tumor

• Department of Neuropathology, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK

  T. H. Moss

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