Nineteen primary intracranial sarcomas out of a total of about 25,000 brain tumour biopsies are reported. Subtypes included malignant fibrous histiocytoma (6 cases), leiomyosarcoma (3), rhabdomyosarcoma (2), angiosarcoma (2), and one case each of fibrosarcoma, low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, malignant ectomesenchymoma, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, differentiated chondrosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Histological and immunohistochemical features corresponded to those of extracranial sarcomas. Nests of pleomorphic astrocytes mimicking glioma were detected in the five storiform-pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytomas. Our results indicate that intracranial sarcomas can be classified like their extracranial counterparts. The low incidence compared with earlier series is related to changes in classification and progress in histogenetic clarification.

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Pathological specimens of 131 surgically removed craniopharyngiomas were obtained from the registry of the National Institute of Neurosurgery, Budapest between 1977 and 1991. The cases were reviewed statistically with reference to their gross and microscopic features and clinical characteristics. Macroscopically, 34% of the tumours were cystic, 23% solid and 43% mixed. Histologically, 38% of the cases belonged to the adamantinous group, 26% were squamous epithelial type, 15% were combined, that is expressing the characteristics of both. In 21% of the cases the surgically removed samples did not contain enough material for correct histopathologic classification. There was no recurrence in the group with the squamous epithelial type tumours, while 59% of the adamantinous, and 36% of the combined craniopharyngiomas recurred. The 5-year survival proportion was 73% at the squamous epithelial, 60% in the adamantinous, and 55% at the combined histological types.