Clarisse L. Dolman

Immunohistochemistry of Meningiomas Including the Angioblastic Type

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to determine the intermediate filament content of normal arachnoidal cells, meningiomas (including the so-called hemangiopericytoma of the meninges), soft tissue hemangiopericytoma, and the normal pericyte. Arachnoid granulations and all types of meningioma stained similarly: positive for vimentin and variably positive for keratin. Soft tissue hemangiopericytomas and normal pericytes were negative for both vimentin and keratin. This suggests that the “hemangiopericytoma” of the meninges is a variant of meningioma and not of pericytic origin.

Fibromatosis of dura presenting as infantile spasms

A 6-month-old boy developed emprosthotonic infantile spasms and right hemiparesis. CT scan revealed a large mass related to a distended right temporal horn which on craniotomy proved to be a hard white tumour of the tentorium cerebelli which could be only incompletely resected. Microscopically and ultrastructurally, this lesion proved to be a typical fibromatosis containing myofibroblasts which invaded the brain. The child made an excellent recovery and is well a year after surgery. This case is another example which argues for full investigation of cases of infantile spasms which usually carry such a dismal prognosis.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus with contralateral hemiplegia: Identification of cause: Case Report: Herpes Zoster Arteritis

A patient with herpes zoster ophthalmicus developed hemiparesis that at first responded to steroids but, when these were reduced, culminated in massive cerebral infarction and death. The cause was an extensive necrotizing arteritis of large and small cerebral arteries. Herpeslike virions were identified in smooth muscle cells of the middle cerebral artery.