Clear cell meningioma of the lumbo-sacral spine with chordoid features

Clear cell meningioma (CCM) is a peculiar variant that differs from conventional meningioma in affecting younger patients, arising more often in spinal or cerebellopontine locations, and showing a higher recurrence rate. Classical meningothelial areas are scarce in these tumors and the differential diagnosis with other neoplasms, particularly metastatic carcinoma, is often difficult. We report a case of clear cell meningioma from the lumbosacral spine in which location, radiologic presentation, light microscopic appearance in initial sampling, and some of the ultrastructural findings were reminiscent of chordoma. The tumor cells were diffusely positive for vimentin and very locally positive for epithelial membrane antigen. Ultrastructural demonstration of interdigitating cell processes joined by numerous desmosomes confirmed the diagnosis of CCM.