title: Clear-cell meningioma: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy.
abstract: Clear-cell meningiomas have a more aggressive behavior than other meningioma subtypes and the cytologic features of clear-cell meningioma have not been described. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of a sacral clear-cell meningioma was performed in a 28-yr-old woman. This tumor was a metastasis from a posterior fossa meningioma that had been unresectable, but had been present for 7 yr. Cytologically, clear-cell meningiomas have a whorled, syncytial architecture and spindled to polygonal, bland-appearing nuclei. In contrast to the more classic meningioma, the clear-cell variety has vacuolated cytoplasm. The differential diagnosis includes a number of other neoplastic processes. Separation of clear-cell meningioma from these other entities may be difficult because of its rather unusual cytoplasmic features and its occurrence in unusual sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, USA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Imlay
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Snider
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Raab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008579:Meningioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed