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Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy. Its histological similarities to fetal pineal gland
Author(s) -
Dooling Elizabeth C.,
Chi Je G.,
Gilles Floyd H.
Publication year - 1977
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(197704)39:4<1535::aid-cncr2820390426>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - stroma , melanin , pineal gland , fetus , pathology , neuroepithelial cell , medicine , anatomy , biology , immunohistochemistry , melatonin , endocrinology , pregnancy , microbiology and biotechnology , stem cell , genetics , neural stem cell
Striking similarities between the pineals of 107 fetuses and infants and a pigmented neuroectodermal tumor occurring in the right orbital and right frontal regions in a 6‐month‐old Puerto Rican boy were found. Both the human fetal pineal and melanotic neuroectodermal tumors of infancy are characterized by pigmented (melanin) epithelial cells, small undifferentiated cells, and a fibrovascular stroma. Our findings suggest the fetal pineal may be a normally occurring precursor of the melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy, or that melanin production may be a normal capability of differentiating neuroepithelial cells.