Suprasellar meningioma with expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein: a peculiar variant.

A 24-year-old female presented with a 3-year history of a suprasellar and intraventricular solid midline process measuring about 3 x 4 cm. At surgery, this tumour was sharply delineated and of stone-like firmness and was removed completely. Histology suggested meningioma, featuring nests and cords of epithelium-like cells with prominent cytoplasm amidst abundant fibrous stroma with prominent lymphoplasmocellular infiltration. Immunocytochemically, the tumour cells expressed vimentin, S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratins, and most surprisingly, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Ultrastructural investigation revealed abundant intermediate filaments and occasionally dense secretory granules in tumour cells with short, finger-like cytoplasmic processes joined by very rare small, but well-developed desmosomes. This tumour most likely represents a peculiar variant of meningioma with prominent production of GFAP, as previously described [Budka H (1986) Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 72: 43-54].