alcian-blue and Carcinoma

Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinomas (MTSCs) are polymorphic neoplasms characterized by small, elongated tubules lined by cuboidal cells and/or cords of spindled cells separated by pale mucinous stroma. Nonclassic morphologic variants and features of MTSC have not been well studied. We identified 17 previously unreported MTSCs from Surgical Pathology and consultative files of the authors and their respective institutions and studied their morphologic features. A total of 10/17 cases were considered "classic," as described above, with 5/10 showing at least focal (20% to 50%) tubular predominance without apparent mucinous matrix. Alcian blue staining revealed abundant (>50%) mucin in all classic cases. Seven of 17 MTSCs were classified as "mucin-poor," with little to no extracellular mucin appreciable by hematoxylin and eosin. Four of these cases showed equal tubular and spindled morphology, 2 cases showed spindle cell predominance (70%; 95%), and 1 case showed tubular predominance (90%). In 5/7 mucin-poor cases, staining for Alcian blue revealed scant (<10%) mucin in cellular areas with the other 2 cases having 30% mucin. Unusual histologic features identified in the 17 cases were: foamy macrophages (n=8), papillations/well formed papillae (n=6/n=1), focal clear cells in tubules (n=3), necrosis (n=3), oncocytic tubules (n=2; 40%, 5%), numerous small vacuoles (n=2), heterotopic bone (n=1), psammomatous calcification (n=1), and nodular growth with lymphocytic cuffing (n=1). An exceptional case contained a well-circumscribed, HMB45-positive angiomyolipoma within the MTSC. MTSCs may be "mucin-poor" and show a marked predominance of either of its principal morphologic components, which coupled with the presence of other unusual features such as clear cells, papillations, foamy macrophages, and necrosis, may mimic other forms of renal cell carcinoma. Pathologists must be aware of the spectrum of histologic findings within MTSCs to ensure their accurate diagnosis.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcian Blue; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Coloring Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Kidney Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Mucins

Thirty cases of gastric cancer were studied. Slides were stained with PAS Alcian Blue. The staining characteristics of the mucin were correlated with gross characteristics of the tumours and histological types. Due to the few cases studied, there was no observed statistical significance between the various mucin staining characteristics with the histological type, sex site of tumour and ethnicity. In 84% of cases the tumour cells secreted either neutral or mixed mucins. Acid mucins were demonstrated in 5 cases only. Neutral mucin is normally secreted by gastric epithelium and neck cells of gastric glands. The observation in this study suggests that those tumours which secrete neutral and mixed mucin probably arise from gastric epithelium, neck cells of gastric glands or colonic metaplasia. In those cases where the tumour produces acid mucin it is possible the tumour arose from areas of intestinal metaplasia.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Alcian Blue; Carcinoma; Coloring Agents; Female; Humans; Male; Mucins; Stomach Neoplasms; Uganda

In 41 salivary gland tumors, the characteristics of the intercellular components and vascular endothelial cells were surveyed by immunohistochemical staining for laminin and factor VIII-related antigen (VIII R:Ag), and by mucopolysaccharidase-digestion for glycosaminoglycan (GAG). In myxomatous areas of pleomorphic adenomas, small vessels (diameter 6.5 +/- 0.11 micron) were frequent and found to be negative or weakly positive by VIIIR:Ag staining although endothelial cells were clearly positive for VIIIR:Ag in capsule surrounding the tumor tissues. Alcian blue stainability was diminished by treatment with both Streptomyces hyaluronidase and chondroitinase. By laminin staining, a vascular pattern was clearly detected, but the majority of tumor cells were not stained. In adenomatous areas, the basement membrane-like linear laminin-staining reaction was observed to be weak and inconsistent around some tumor cell nests. However, in adenoid cystic carcinomas, laminin-positivity was much more intense than in other tumors such as pleomorphic adenoma, mucoepidermoid tumor and adenocarcinoma. In cylindromatous areas, the inner luminal surface in the pseudocysts was markedly positive for laminin, and there was weak positivity around tumor cell nests having a trabecular pattern. By immunoelectron microscopy, a juxtacellular network of replicated basal lamina of tumor cells which lined the inner surface of pseudocysts was positive for laminin. Alcian blue-positivity in the pseudocyst was abolished with heparitinase and chondroitinase, but not with hyaluronidase.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenolymphoma; Adenoma; Adenoma, Pleomorphic; Alcian Blue; Antigens; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic; Factor VIII; Glucuronidase; Glycosaminoglycans; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Laminin; Lyases; Microscopy, Electron; Salivary Gland Neoplasms; Staining and Labeling; von Willebrand Factor

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar; Alcian Blue; Carcinoma; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mucins; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction