Ultrastructural study of medullomyoblastoma.

A case of cerebellar medullomyoblastoma in a young boy was investigated by electron microscopy. The neuroectodermal component shows the characteristics of a desmoplastic medulloblastoma. The mesodermal component consists of more or less differentiated cross-striated muscle cells. Undifferentiated muscle cells are very similar to proliferated endothelial cells of blood vessels within the muscular component, so that an origin of this component from pluripotential endothelial cells of the vessel wall is suggested. This tumor is considered a malignant teratoid because of the derivation from two blastodermic layers and because of the midline localization in children suggesting a malformative origin.