title: Extradural spinal meningioma as a source of plasmacytoid cells. A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meningiomas, tumors that often affect middle-aged and elderly people, occasionally arise in the spine, typically at the thoracic level. The cytologic findings in meningiomas include whorls and syncytial clusters of bland-looking cells with scattered, psammomatous calcifications and intranudclear cytoplasmic inclusions. However, in many cases, not all these findings are seen, and in rare cases, unusual cytomorphologic features are observed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case of spinal meningioma was located in the extradural compartment and composed predominantly of singly scattered cells with a plasmacytoid appearance, demonstrated on fine needle aspiration biopsy smear preparations. The cell block showed more typical features of meningioma, and the diagnosis was supported by the results of immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis of spinal meningioma is readily made by employing magnetic resonance imaging. The diagnosis can be difficult to confirm pathologically when atypical histologic findings are present, as in this case, with prominent plasmacytoid features. Sections from the cell block and immunohistochemical stains as well as clinical and radiologic findings were extremely helpful in arriving at the final diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA. mmnicola@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Marlo M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaakaji
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Denise V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: De Frias
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nayar
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D015174:Epidural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae