REPERCUSSION OF CRANIOPHARYNGIOMA ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE ROSTRAL WALL OF THE 3RD-VENTRICLE - A COMBINED TEM AND SEM STUDY

Using a combined scanning and electron microscope technique, the reper cussions on the rostral wall of the III ventricle in a patient affecte d with a retrochiasmatic craniopharyngioma with growth in the ventricu lar direction were analysed. The apical surface of the ependymocytes w as found to be free of cilia, although there were numerous microvilli. The most striking finding appreciated with the scanning electron micr oscope was the presence of bulbous protrusions towards the lumen of th e ventricle; these were formed of cells with shapes, sizes and surface characteristics different from the rest of the ependyma, which appear ed flattened. The ultrastructural study revealed the presence of large numbers of filaments and junction complexes both in the ependymal and subependymal cells. Additionally, the protruded zones corresponded to areas showing different degrees of cellular disorganization.