CLEAR-CELL MENINGIOMA - DIAGNOSIS BY FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

Clear-cell meningiomas have a more aggressive behavior than other meni ngioma subtypes and the cytologic features of clear-cell meningioma ha ve nor been described. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of a sac ral clear-cell meningioma was performed in a 28-yr-old woman. This tum or was a metastasis from a posterior fossa meningioma thar had been un resectable, but had been present Sor 7 yr. Cytologically, clear-cell m eningiomas have a whorled, syncytial architecture and spindled to poly gonal, bland-appearing nuclei. In contrast to the more classic meningi oma, the clear-cell variety has vacuolated cytoplasm. The differential diagnosis includes a number of other neoplastic processes. Separation of clear-cell meningioma form these other entities may be difficult b ecause of its rather unusual cytoplasmic features and its occurrence i n unusual sites. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.