Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pathology

Meningiomas are the most common among the primary central nervous system tumors. Schwannomas of the craniospinal axis and meningeal hemangiopericytomas are much less frequent tumors, however the distinction between certain histologic subtypes of meningioma and either of them can be challenging in some cases. Somatostatin receptors are highly expressed in meningioma and can be used as a good meningioma immunohistochemical marker. In addition, Somatostatin shows antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects and can be used as targeted therapy. This study tested the immunohistochemical expression of SSTR2A in 35 cases of meningioma (16 grade I, 14 grade II and 5 grade III), 10 cases of intracranial schwannoma and 10 cases of hemangiopericytoma. The cases were retrieved as routinely processed paraffin blocks from the department of pathology, Kasr Alainy hospital, Cairo university and from a private laboratory. Positive immunostaining for SSTR2A was encountered in 89% of meningiomas, 0% of schwannomas and 0% of hemangiopericytomas (p value < 0.05). In meningiomas, all cases of grade I and grade II showed positive staining and only one out of five cases (20%) of grade III showed positive staining (p < 0.05). SSTR2A is a highly specific marker and can be used in the distinction between meningioma, particularly grade I and II, and schwannoma or hemangiopericytoma. It is also suggested that it can be used as a good prognostic marker for meningioma

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