Meningiomas – insights into genetics and correlations with histological features

Abstract

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumors. They occur more frequently in women and may be completely asymptomatic. According to the World Health Organization, the ability to invade and to develop recurrences represents the criterion which is used to designate three grades of meningiomas. In the last decade, advanced knowledges in genetics and molecular biology have improved our understanding of the clinical behavior of meningiomas. In addition to mutation or loss of NF2 gene, recurrent mutations of other genes, such as TERT,

Tumor recurrence in parasagittal and falcine atypical meningiomas invading the superior sagittal sinus

“…As all the cases analyzed were retrospective, stored slides were taken out and reviewed by two senior neuropathologists (G.F.D and A.S) for grading, according to the WHO classification of meningiomas. The histomorphological criteria for grading a meningothelial tumor as an AM were as follows: ( a ) 4–19 mitoses/10 high-power fields (HPFs) or ( b ) three or more of the following five characteristics: ( i ) small cells with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, ( ii ) increased cellularity, ( iii ) prominent nucleoli, ( iv ) uninterrupted patternless or sheet-like growth, ( v ) foci of “geographic” or “spontaneous” necrosis [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”