A case of giant-cell granuloma of the pituitary in a 28-year-old woman is reported. Clinical complaints included headache and amenorrhea. Endocrinological studies showed hypopituitarism. X-ray films showed enlargement of the sella turcica.

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IgG from immunized rabbits was labelled with Fluorescein Isothiocyanate, and conjugated in vitro with human and with rat glioblastoma. After absorption of the antisera with normal brain and liver, a heavy concentration of antibody was found in the rat tumour cells. A great amount of antibody was also found in the human neoplastic cells. The incorporation of this antibody in glioma cells of different rats developing new tumours indicates that transplantation antigens of the H-2 type are not the only ones capable of inducing specific antibody attachment.

The fact that glioblastoma multiforme possesses antigens differing from those of normal brain has been stressed in early papers from Scheimberg, Mahaley, Eggers, and Brooks. In our work the presence of specific cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens in neoplastic cells has been demonstrated. These specific antigens are present not only in experimental tumours from the rat, but also in human glioblastoma, and are easily demonstrated by immunodiffusion and immunofluorescence techniques. From our work differences between intracellular and membrane antigens are clear, as the latter do not react with IgG immunoglobulin. On the other hand, tumoural antigens in glioblastoma have similar antigenic qualities to those of histocompatible antigens in normal brain. Experimental and human glioblastomas have weak antigens, as demonstrated by frequent tumour recurrence following amputation and the positive cross-reaction of antibody with normal brain in experimental models. Glioblastoma multiforme may have a common antigen as its antibodies easily cross-react positively with different human tumours with similar, histological features. As tumoural membranes did not react as cytoplasm and nuclei, we cannot say that membrane antigens resemble those of intracellular contents. The fact that viral-induced tumours may have common antigens should point to aetiological possibilities in this group of tumours. Delayed cellular response is very useful during the follow-up of these patients. Positive DNCB and intradermal reactions could be elicited in those patients in whom the antigenic overload has been reduced as a consequence of a surgical procedure. On the other hand, patients with extensive and infiltrating tumoural masses exhibited weak or negative delayed cellular responses. Humoral responses from the patient's sera may not have the prognostic value of cellular responses.

SummaryThe surgical treatment of congenital or acquired craniofacial deformities is presented. All procedures are carried out in order to achieve a good functional and cosmetic correction of the deformity. In the authors' view the surgical results obtained by these procedures are better than those achieved with the classical or palliative methods.