Papillary meningioma: a malignant variant of meningioma.

A series of 17 meningiomas histologically characterized by a papillary pattern is reported. This pattern was invariably associated with other histologic features of malignancy. The tumors often displayed aggressive clinical behavior marked by a high rate of local recurrence or the development of distant metastases. A relatively large proportion occurred in children. It is suggested that this variant of meningioma is sufficiently characteristic to justify its separation as a distinct clinicopathologic entity.