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“Thick” cell membranes revealed by immunocytochemical staining: A clue to the diagnosis of mesothelioma
Author(s) -
Leong Anthony s.Y.,
Parkinson Richard,
Milios James
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/dc.2840060104
Subject(s) - mesothelioma , pathology , staining , immunohistochemistry , adenocarcinoma , cytoplasm , immunocytochemistry , medicine , monoclonal antibody , cell , intracellular , antibody , biology , cancer , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
The distinction of malignant mesothelioma from metastatic adenocarcinoma in pleural effusions and biopsies is frequently a diagnostic problem. Immunocytochemical staining of 13 malignant mesotheliomas, eight primary adenocarcinomas of the lung, five metastatic adenocarcinomas of the lung, and 20 primary adenocarcinomas in extrapulmonary sites with a monoclonal antibody to epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) revealed ‘thick’ cell membranes in all cases of mesothelioma. This distinctive pattern of staining was seen in the periphery of cell clusters and circumferentially around individual cells in cytologic preparations, cell blocks, and tissue sections. Intracel‐Mar and intercellular acini were also outlined by anti‐EMA, and long intraluminal microvillous projections were demonstrated. Weak cytoplasmic staining was only rarely seen in mesothelioma cells. This membranous staining pattern was not observed in adenocarcinomas, which displayed strong and diffuse cytoplasmic staining. The immunocytochemical demonstration of thick and spiky membranes circumferentially disposed around individual cells corresponds to aberrant microvilli, a diagnostic clue in the recognition of malignant mesothelioma.

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