The nature of macrophages (foam cells) in neurinomas. Tissue culture study.

Fourteen cases of neurinomas of variable location are studied by tissue culture technic in an attempt to typify the foam cells as primary or superimposed elements in the tumor population. Our results demonstrate that the "in vitro" behavior of the neurinomas is constant and characteristic and that three cell types are found in them: fusiform, star-shaped cells and macrophages. There appears that the macrophage is an evolutive aspect of the star-shaped cells and probably of the fusiform one. On this basis, macrophage and foam cells of neurinomas must be considered as primary.