Cytology of neuroectodermal tumors of the brain in crush preparations. A review of 56 cases of deep-seated tumors sampled by CT-guided stereotactic needle biopsy.

Fifty-six brain tumors of neuroectodermal origin were sampled by computed tomographic stereotactic needle biopsy. Crush preparations prepared from tiny tissue fragments displayed distinctive cytologic characteristics of different tumor types in 77% of the cases. The adjunctival value of crush preparations to frozen section diagnosis is discussed, and the cytologic features of different types of neuroectodermal brain tumors in crush preparations are illustrated.