title: Histologic and histogenetic investigations of intracranial hemangioblastomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to elucidate the histologic characteristics and the histogenesis of intracranial HBs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens from 40 patients with HBs were verified surgically and pathologically at the Huashan Hospital Department of Neurosurgery (Fudan University, Shanghai, China). All sections were immunohistochemically stained. In addition, fresh specimens were examined by electron microscopy in 3 cases and cells were cultured in 10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemangioblastomas were composed of endothelial cells, pericytes, and stromal cells. Vimentin was expressed in all 3 cell types of HB. CD34 was expressed in endothelial cells, and SMA was expressed in pericytes. Telomerase was expressed in stromal cells. Chromogranin A, CD68, and CD117 showed a negative reaction in HBs. Vascular endothelial growth factor showed a positive reaction in stromal cells, and Flt-1 showed a positive reaction in endothelial cells. There was no difference in immunohistochemical staining between specimens from cystic HBs and those from solid HBs. Three cell types had individual ultrastructural characteristics. Stromal cells represented a heterogeneity of abnormally differentiating mesenchymal cells in cell culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemangioblastomas may originate from the mesenchyme. Stromal cells are the real tumor components of HBs although they represent a heterogeneity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China. dxh-cn@sohu.com
authors.forename: Xing-hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Liang-fu
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yu-zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jing-jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D018325:Hemangioblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D020286:Pericytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019098:Telomerase / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D019098:Telomerase