[Ultrastructure of capillary permeability in human brain tumor: disseminated and metastatic medulloblastoma].

The ultrastructure of the tumor vessels of primary cerebellar, subarachnoidal disseminated and extraneural metastatic medulloblastomas was studied. They were compared with those in glial, nonglial and metastatic brain tumors which have been previously reported. Twelve surgical specimens were examined. Seven tumors were limited to the vermis, the floor of the fourth ventricle and the cerebellar hemispheres. Four gross nodule seedings were demonstrated in the cerebral and spinal subarachnoid space. One metastasis was demonstrated in the subclavicular lymph node. Ultrathin section of those tumors and replica specimens were studied under the transmission electron microscope. The tumor vessels of primary medulloblastoma and glial tumors had nonfenestrated capillaries and were morphologically similar to normal brain capillaries. On the other hand, the tumor vessels of disseminated and metastatic medulloblastoma, nonglial tumors, and metastatic brain tumors had fenestrated capillaries. These findings were anticipated because the arachnoid membrane and lymph nodes have fenestrated capillaries. The presence of fenestration suggests that the tumor vessels of disseminated and metastatic brain tumors resemble the blood vessels found in normal arachnoid membrane and lymph nodes.