bromochloroacetic-acid and Endocrine-System-Diseases

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Carcinoma; Diagnosis, Differential; Endocrine System Diseases; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Lymphoma; Melanoma; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Skin Neoplasms; Sweat Gland Neoplasms

A wide variety of human neoplasms were examined by immunocytochemical and ultrastructural techniques. In most, one intermediate filament (IF) type was expressed reflecting the tissue of origin. However, multiple classes of intermediate filaments were regularly found in a subgroup of these tumors. We chose to subdivide them into those with a complex or mixed growth pattern, and those which showed a more "monomorphic" histologic growth pattern. This latter group is the subject of this paper. Regular coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin was observed in tumors of endometrial, thyroid, ovarian and renal origin, and coexpression of cytokeratin and neurofilament was observed in a subgroup of neuroendocrine tumors. Immunocytochemical/ultrastructural correlation demonstrated few, if any, observable intermediate filaments in tumors expressing only low molecular weight cytokeratin, whereas vimentin and neural filament characteristically were randomly dispersed or formed whorled bundles of cytoplasmic filaments. The potential diagnostic usefulness of these observations in surgical pathology is discussed.

Topics: Carcinoid Tumor; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cytoskeleton; Endocrine System Diseases; Female; Humans; Intermediate Filaments; Keratins; Kidney Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Ovarian Neoplasms; Thyroid Neoplasms; Uterine Neoplasms; Vimentin

All definite cases of oncogenic osteomalacia have, until now, been classified as mesenchymal tumours. We report here a case of oncogenic osteomalacia caused by a spinal tumour. Microscopically, it resembled the mixed connective tissue variant of previously described phosphaturic tumours. Immunohistochemical studies, however, showed the tumour cells to be positive for low molecular weight cytokeratin (CAM 5.2), S100 protein, PGP 9.5, and synaptophysin. Electron microscopy demonstrated neurosecretory granules. The histopathological findings strongly suggest that this is a neuroendocrine tumour.

Topics: Adult; Cytoplasmic Granules; Endocrine System Diseases; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Neuropeptides; Neurosecretory Systems; Osteomalacia; S100 Proteins; Spinal Neoplasms; Synaptophysin; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase