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Cardiac myxoma is rich in factor XIIIa positive dendrophages: immunohistochemical study of four cases
Author(s) -
BERRUTTI L.,
SILVERMAN J.S.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2559.1996.d01-470.x
Subject(s) - myxoma , factor xiiia , pathology , endocardium , cd31 , cd34 , thrombus , medicine , fossa ovalis , biology , anatomy , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , stem cell , left atrium , atrial fibrillation
Cardiac myxoma is an enigmatic tumour thought to arise from primitive cardiac mesenchymal cells. Factor XIIIa+ dendrophages are tissue histiocytes that are active in tissue repair and thrombosis. To explore whether factor XIIIa+ dendrophages play a role in cardiac myxoma morphogenesis, we stained four cases with an antiserum against coagulation factor XIIIa (FXIIIa). We also used antibodies recognizing CD34, CD31, and S‐100 protein. Samples of valvular endocardium from 12 and 16 week fetuses and two adult autopsies were compared with the four myxomas. All cardiac myxomas had rounded and dendritic FXIIIa+ cells admixed with more numerous CD34+ spindle and stellate myxoma cells. The CD34+ cells formed multicellular syncytia and capillary sprouts. Many of these syncytial structures also expressed CD31 and, to a lesser extent, S‐100 protein, strongly in two cases and more focally in two. Fetal subendocardium was composed of CD34+ stellate fibroblast‐like cells invested with scattered FXIIIa+ histiocytes; no S‐100+ cells were detected. Our findings confirm that cardiac myxomas are composed of CD34+ primitive subendocardial cells. These cells show a capacity for CD31+ endothelial differentiation. In cardiac myxoma, the CD34+ myxoma cells are accompanied by numerous FXIIIa+ dendrophages, the presence of which suggests abnormal organizing thrombus‐like differentiation in cardiac myxoma morphogenesis.