Correlations of female steroid hormone receptors with histologic features in meningiomas

A series of 39 samples were obtained from meningiomas in 28 patients in order to investigate the relationships of the oestrogen receptor (OER) and progesterone receptor (PR) with the tumoural subtype and some histological features. Twenty-one samples were positive (greater than 10 fmole/mg protein), 7 were OER-PR-negative, and 1 was positive in both receptors. Twenty-two samples were considered as syncitial, 7 transitional, 7 fibroblastic and 3 angioblastic. The histological subtype was not found to be significantly related to the presence or absence of PR. Relations were not observed between the progestin receptor and the following histological parameters: cellular pattern, cell density, nuclear polymorphism, mitosis, lymphoplasmacellular infiltrates, degree of vascularization, psammoma bodies and interstitial fibrosis. Only the presence of intratumoural necrosis was significantly related with a low PR levels. However, progesterone binding activity was lower in tumours with numerous psammomas, fibroblastic cell pattern and interstitial fibrosis. The clinical and biological significance of these results is discussed.

Radiosurgical treatment of epilepsy

Focal irradiation of epileptic foci has been performed in a group of 6 epileptic patients, of whom 2 presented with epilepsy and 4 with epileptic psychoses. The epileptic focus was localized by means of conventional scalp EEG, electrocorticography and stereoelectroencephalography. Radiosurgery was performed by coupling a stereoguide to a 60Co unit using a 10-mm diameter collimator. An estimated dose of 10 Gy was administered. Results are presented and the mechanism of action of radiation discussed.