Chordomas are known by primary malign tumors that have formed from primitive notochord remains and exhibit different epithelial properties. Morphologically these cells have distinct borders; the nucleus displays a monotony and blandness. It was found few cases of pleomorphism, atypia, anaplasia and hipercromatic nuclei. Vacuoles were seen in the cytoplasm. This study was realized during January 1995 until June 2005, with 22 surgeries of chordomas and intraoperative crush. The background was dirty with myxoid appearance, myxoid matrix growing in sheets or cord and had vacuoles showed more evidence of physaliferous cells. Chondroid chordoma showed vacuolated cells as well as other cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and myxoid background. Single cells were observed only in two cases and high cellularity was observed in 8(42%) cases. Two cases were frank errors, only one had a partial correlation. The percentage of mistakes was 30% and our diagnosis accuracy was 70%. The correlation with clinical details and radiological findings were helpful in improving the accuracy rate. There was no differentiation between cytomorphological features smear of intracranial tumours and the sacrococcygeal location. Intraoperative analysis of chordomas could be helpful to have a good diagnosis and to have a better surgical resection.

Craniopharyngioma is a sellar tumor with cystic and solid structures. The cystic areas contain aproteinaceous material described as "oil machinery", little is known about the characteristics of this fluid. We studied a woman 60 years old with a long history of 10 years with visual disturbance until amaurosis. The MRI showed a sellar lesion. Intraoperative findings showed a necrotic yelloswish material with purulent appearance that was diagnosed as abscess. The intraoperative study with crush smears showed a dirty background with necrosis and lipo-proteinaceous material. Few inflammatory cells and abundant Rosenthal fibers formation were also observed. Epithelial cells were lacking. The presence of Rosenthal fibers and lipo-proteinaceous material has been observed in the boundary of this tumor, but those findings have been described as the same and may be helpful for the craniopharyngioma diagnosis. The presence of these indicates rupture of the cystic structure and conditions the output of the material that is damaging normal brain structures.