We report here ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies of neuroblastic differentiation in the retrospective (n = 17) and prospective (n = 26) series of primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs). By electron microscopy, neuritelike structures containing parallel-oriented microtubules, adhesive plaque junctions, and pleomorphic dense-core vesicles were found in the majority of tumor specimens while synaptic specializations were very rare. By immunohistochemistry, synaptophysin appeared to be the most reliable marker for neuroblastic differentiation present in the most reliable marker for neuroblastic differentiation present in the majority of tumors, while 200 kDa neurofilament protein was immunovisualized in a lower proportion of tumors. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was expressed in both reactive astrocytes and in a small proportion of otherwise typical neoplastic cells. We conclude that the majority of PNETs revealed diverse differentiation and that electron microscopy is still the most reliable tool for its detection followed by immunohistochemistry for synaptophysin.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Retrospective assessment of bilateral trigeminal neuralgia treatment].

Bilateral trigeminal neuralgia is a rarely observed suffering. It is usually localised on one half of the face and few years after therapy or idiopathic regression it appears on the other side. In exceptional cases trigeminal neuralgia appears on both sides at the same time. Neurovascular decompression or neurotomy in the pontocerebellar angle are the most effective therapy. In the last 25 years of 257 surgically treated patients with trigeminal neuralgia bilateral pain was found in 12 cases (5%). Retrospective assessment of the used method, in our department, in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia demonstrated efficacy of this procedure.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied