title: On the ultrastructure of ependymomas--a semiquantitative analysis of diagnostic criteria in 21 cases with special reference to glycogen as a marker.
abstract: We report our results on the ultrastructure of 21 ependymomas and establish the following diagnostic criteria: 1. Glycogen is the most frequently encountered criterion, followed by desmosomes, cilia, basal bodies and microvilli. Fifteen tumors had 3 or more of these features. 2. The allegedly typical nuclear pattern was found in only 6 cases. 3. Special ultrastructural features seen include basement membranes in a mid-thoracic ependymoma. Furthermore we propose the hypothesis that glycogen might be involved in cilia assembly.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Neuropathology, Free University of Berlin, West Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haustein
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cruz-Sanchez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cervós-Navarro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged