TUMOUR CELLS IN THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

Abstract

A! study of the malignant cells in cerebrospinal fluid has been found especially valuable in diagnosing diffuse carcinomatous infiltrations of the meninges in the absence of localized signs in the central nervous system or evidence of a primary lesion elsewhere. The results of such studies in 21 cases is reported. Cell smears are treated with Leishman stain and the normal and neoplastic cells counted. Normal cells include lymphocytes, (M) cells which resemble lymphocytes but are larger and (G) cells resembling monocytes. Neoplastic cells do not have the characteristics of well-recognized types of some pathological fluids. They are usually exceptionally large, frequently contain 2 or more nuclei, occasionally form a syncytium, nuclei frequently contain 2 or more nucleoli and active mitosis is seen in an average number. The possibilities of false negative and positive results are cited but the technique has proved suitable for routine use and has clinical value.