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abnormalities, histopathological and other tumor and patient characteristics of meningiomas
are scarce (Zang, 1982; Al Saadi et aI., 1987; Maltby et aI., 1988; Casalone et aI., 1990;
Sanson et aI., 1992; Vagner-Capodano et aI., 1993) and in only two of these studies
statistical analyses on some of these characteristics (Casal one et aI., 1990; Vagner-Capodano
et aI., 1993) were performed. Investigation of the different characteristics of meningiomas
could help in identifying different subclasses, which might explain the genetic alterations, not
affecting the NF2 gene, found in a subset of tumors. This study describes cytogenetic and
molecular genetic findings in a large number of meningiomas. A significant association was
found between characteristics like sex, site of tumor origin, histological subtype, grade,
chromosome 22 loss and number of chromosomal abnormalities.
Matedals and methods:
Tumor collection and tissue culture:
From November 1988 to September 1993 we collected 126 meningiomas (Table 1). If
possible, tumor material obtained at surgery was divided in three or more parts. These parts
were used for: 1) histopathology, 2) DNA isolation and 3) cytogenetic analysis. Tumor parts
were frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen prior to DNA isolation and pieces were used
directly for interphase in situ hybridization and tissue culture. Both preparation for tissue
culture and tissue culture conditions were as described elsewhere (Koper et aI., 1990).
Histological examination and localization:
Histopathological assessment was performed on formalin fixed 5 I'm paraffin embedded
tumor sections. The tumors were classified according to the WHO histological typing of
tumors of the central nervous system (ZUlch 1979) and Kepes et al. (1982). The following
subtypes or mixtures of them were identified in our series: transitional (T), fibroblastic (F),
meningotheliomatous (M), psammomatous (Ps) , angiomatous (A), papillomatous (P),
anaplastic (Ana), xanthomatous (X), lipoblastic (L), pleiomorphic (PI), oncocytic (0), and
haemangiopericytic (H).
The grading system used in this study was as described by JiUiskeUiinen et al. (1985).
In this system a higher grade corresponds to an increased degree of anaplasia, which is
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