Hugh Cairns, Dorothy Russell and the first pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma?

The 40-year survival of a patient with an unusual astrocytoma, excised in 1 930, has been re-evaluated by study of the original microfilmed records, hi stological slides and paraffin-wax embedded tissue blocks. The operation an d neuropathological examination were carried out by Mr Hugh Cairns and Dr D orothy Russell, in the very early days of neurosurgery. Review of the origi nal tissue specimen with immunocytochemistry has revealed that the tumour w as a pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, the earliest recorded example.