Neoplastic Cells In Cerebrospinal Fluid Research Articles

Intrathecal synthesis of tumor markers is a highly sensitive test in the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis from solid cancers

Identification of neoplastic cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by cytological analysis is the key diagnostic feature of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM). Because of the lack of sensitivity of this test, considerable efforts have been made to identify alternative diagnostic markers. Data from the literature suggest that measurement of tumor markers (TM) in CSF may be helpful for improving the diagnosis. We analyzed the concentrations of the TM carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA15.3, CA125 and CA19.9 in both CSF and serum from 18 patients with neoplastic meningitis diagnosed by CSF cytology. We also performed these same measurements in 50 patients affected by other neurological diseases (OND) in order to evaluate putative intrathecal synthesis. In addition, CSF and serum concentrations of the proangiogenic factor VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) were evaluated. All LM patients showed intrathecal synthesis for at least one TM. In one patient, a negative CSF cytology after treatment paralleled normalization of tumor marker synthesis. None of the OND patients displayed intrathecal TM synthesis. The VEGF Index (CSF/serum VEGF relative to CSF/serum albumin ratios) was significantly higher in LM patients compared with the control group. However, significant overlap between LM patients and values seen in those with OND was observed. Evaluation of intrathecal TM synthesis is a specific, sensitive, reliable, and reproducible diagnostic tool, and is useful to support diagnosis of carcinomatous meningitis.

Cerebrospinal fluid cytomorphologic findings in 41 intracranial tumors: a retrospective review.

The main objective of this retrospective review of clinical and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) data from 41 patients with intracranial tumors diagnosed between 1975 and 1989, is to report the role that the finding of neoplastic cells in CSF plays, specially when cerebral CT-scanning and MRI were not currently done. Another objective is to study the CSF proteic abnormalities in cerebral tumors. CSF cell count, cytomorphologic pictures obtained after sedimentation and protein findings are described. Tumor cells were seen in 12 cases (29%): medulloblastomas--6, meningeal carcinomatosis--3, multiforme glioblastoma--1, ependymoma--1, cerebral metastasis--1; in two cases it was an unexpected finding. We noticed that tumoral localization next to the ventricles favoured cell exfoliation. Although pleocytosis was rare and uncorrelated with the presence of neoplastic cells, pathological cytomorphologic pictures appeared in most of the cases including all "positive" ones. Our results stress that the appearance of neoplastic cells in CSF remains helpful specially when it is an unexpected finding.

Diagnostic Cytology of Cerebrospinal Fluid by the Cytocentrifuge Method

Seven hundred seventy-five cerebrospinal fluid samples from 748 patients with neurologic and non-neurologic disorders were studied by a modified cytocentrifuge technic for diagnostic evaluation. The technic proved to be simple, rapid, and inexpensive, and provided consistently good artifact-free morphologic detail suitable for differential and cytochemical analysis. Specimens from 525 patients (70%) had normal cytologic characteristics regardless of underlying condition. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluids of 40 patients (5%) revealed hemorrhage, confirming the presence of intracranial hemorrhage. Inflammatory reactions of various types (acute, chronic, and mixed) were encountered in 120 patients (16%). The appearance of neoplastic cells in cerebrospinal fluid was sometimes the first indication of malignancy. Twenty-six patients (4%) had tumor cells of various types in their cerebrospinal fluids on initial examination. Twenty patients (3%) had abnormal cells initially classified as suspect for malignancy; tumor cells subsequently were found in the spinal fluids of 11 of these, while five were proven to have neoplasms at autopsy without having had tumor cells found in their cerebrospinal fluids. There was no false-positive result. Samples of cerebrospinal fluid from 17 patients (2%) were classified as non-diagnostic, usually because of autolysis.

Identification of neoplastic cells in cerebrospinal fluid by a wet-film method.

CancerVolume 10, Issue 6 p. 1293-1299 ArticleFree Access Identification of neoplastic cells in cerebrospinal fluid by a wet-film method Lawrence J. McCormack M.D., Lawrence J. McCormack M.D. Departments of Pathology and Neurological Surgery. the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Frank E. Bunts Educational Institute, Cleveland, OhioSearch for more papers by this authorJohn B. Hazard M.D., John B. Hazard M.D. Departments of Pathology and Neurological Surgery. the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Frank E. Bunts Educational Institute, Cleveland, OhioSearch for more papers by this authorDoris Belovich B.S., Doris Belovich B.S. Departments of Pathology and Neurological Surgery. the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Frank E. Bunts Educational Institute, Cleveland, OhioSearch for more papers by this authorW. James Gardner M.D., W. James Gardner M.D. Departments of Pathology and Neurological Surgery. the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Frank E. Bunts Educational Institute, Cleveland, OhioSearch for more papers by this author Lawrence J. McCormack M.D., Lawrence J. McCormack M.D. Departments of Pathology and Neurological Surgery. the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Frank E. Bunts Educational Institute, Cleveland, OhioSearch for more papers by this authorJohn B. Hazard M.D., John B. Hazard M.D. Departments of Pathology and Neurological Surgery. the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Frank E. Bunts Educational Institute, Cleveland, OhioSearch for more papers by this authorDoris Belovich B.S., Doris Belovich B.S. Departments of Pathology and Neurological Surgery. the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Frank E. Bunts Educational Institute, Cleveland, OhioSearch for more papers by this authorW. James Gardner M.D., W. James Gardner M.D. Departments of Pathology and Neurological Surgery. the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Frank E. Bunts Educational Institute, Cleveland, OhioSearch for more papers by this author First published: November/December 1957 https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(195711/12)10:6<1293::AID-CNCR2820100627>3.0.CO;2-RCitations: 21AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume10, Issue6November/December 1957Pages 1293-1299 ReferencesRelatedInformation