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Formaldehyde‐induced fluorescence technique for the demonstration of biogenic amines in diagnostic histopathology
Author(s) -
Delellis Ronald A.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197112)28:6<1704::aid-cncr2820280662>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - biogenic amine , formaldehyde , amine gas treating , pathology , pheochromocytoma , histopathology , fluorescence , endocrine system , melanoma , medicine , chemistry , biochemistry , cancer research , serotonin , organic chemistry , optics , physics , receptor , hormone
Biogenic amines and some of their precursors may be found in a variety of human neoplasms including pheochromocytomas, neuroblastomas, nonchromaffin paragangliomas, carcinoid tumors, melanomas, and a variety of polypeptide‐producing endocrine tumors. Classical histochemical techniques often lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the detection of biogenic amines in these tumors. Touch preparations of a variety of human neoplasms were studied by the formaldehyde vapor‐induced fluorescence method for catecholamines and indolylethylamines. Positive fluorescence reactions were obtained in cases in which there was biochemical evidence of elevated biogenic amine levels but in which chromaffin and so called “substitute” chromaffin reactions were negative or equivocally positive. The routine application of this technique to the study of biogenic amine‐producing tumors is suggested.