Fine structure of medulloepithelioma.

A survey of published cases of medulloepitheliomas indicates that this tumor is highly malignant (average course 6 months), occurs in early childhood (average age 4,4 years) and has no sex predilection. Although it may originate in any part of the central nervous system, it is most common in the cerebral hemispheres. The first case studied with the electron microscope is reported here. The fine structure of the tumor is similar to that of the fetal neural tube in showing a primitive epithelium having uniform nuclei rich in chromatin but little cytoplasm and sparse organelles; it rests on a distinct basement membrane. The epithelial surface lacks cilia or microvilli and is covered with an irregular amorphous coat which is probably the cause of the light-microscopic misinterpretation of an inner limiting membrane. The lateral cell surfaces lack interdigitations but show extensive primitive forms of cell junctions. The case presented is also unusual in being the second case on record originating in the cerebellum and the first showing massive seeding along the spinal canal.