Astrocytoma, ependymoma, hemangioblastoma, craniopharyngioma and pituitary adenoma make a cyst in the brain frequently. In these cystic brain tumors, it is diagnosed histologically if a mural nodule is found or if the inner wall is partially covered by tumor. However, when the inner wall of the cyst is smooth and the mural nodule is not found, histological diagnosis can be hardly obsteined. So we analyzed the encysted fluid of brain tumors obtained at the operation for the examination of the nature of tumor. Cyst fluid of 30 cases in total has been examined : the tumors taken from these patients at operation were diagnosed histologically on 29 occasions. Cystic fluid and blood serum were examined for total protein, amino acid nitrogen, electrolyte, enzyme, lipid and others in these 30 cases respectively. In general there is a reasonable degree of agreement between the biochemical and histological diagnosis. Lipid : Phosphatic acid, cholesterol and total lipid in glioblastoma multiforme showed higher level than those in astrocytoma and hemangioblastoma. In the level of cholesterol, astrocytoma was below 130mg/dl, hemangioblastoma between 50 and 60 mg/dl and glioblastoma multiforme above 150mg/dl. Enzyme : Glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (G. O. T.), glutamic phosphatic transaminase (G. P. T.), lactate dehydrogenase (L. D. H.) and alkaline phosphatase were examined. In the level of L. D. H., astrocytoma was between 150U. and 500U., glioblastoma multiforme above 700U. and cranioparyngioma between 800U. and 4, 800U.. In L. D. H. isozyme, astrocytoma and hemangioblastoma showed high level in L_1, L_2, L_3 isozymes and craniopharyngioma in L_4, L_5 isozymes as well. Even if we cannot obtain the histological diagnosis, we can diagnose the nature of tumor, i. e., benign or malignant, by examining L. D. H., L. D. H. isozyme, total lipid, and cholesterol of the encysted fluid of tumor. With regard to cause of encystment fluid, our findings support that cyst fluid was a filtrate of serum. Therefore the genesis of encystment fluid should be rather ascribed to some local increase of permeability in the blood-brain barrier than to increased general metabolic demans for a specific meterial or lysis ol neoplastic cells.
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