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Embolization of mesothelial cells in lymphatics: the route to mesothelial inclusions in lymph nodes?
Author(s) -
D. Suarez Vilela,
Francisco Miguel Izquierdo García
Publication year - 1998
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.1365-2559.1998.00545.x
Subject(s) - mesothelial cell , lymphatic system , pathology , lymph , lymphatic endothelium , mesothelium , chemistry , biology , medicine
Aims : To provide evidence that lymphatic embolization is the mechanism for mesothelial inclusions in lymph nodes. Methods and results A 60‐year‐old man with alcoholic cirrhosis and ascites had an umbilical hernia resected. The herniorrhaphy specimen contained numerous dermal and submesothelial lymphatic vessels filled by cells similar to the cells that lined the hernia sac. Most of the cells in lymphatics were submesothelial reactive cells, whose cytoplasm stained with antibodies against cytokeratins (AE1–AE3; 8,18), smooth muscle actin, vimentin, desmin and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA). Some cells seemed to be superficial mesothelial cells, being positive with high molecular weight anticytokeratin antibody 34βE12. On ultrastructural study submesothelial cells with intermediate cytoplasmic filaments, rough endoplasmic reticulum and primitive cell junctions, and scanty superficial mesothelial cells with microvilli, tonofilaments and desmosomes were found in the lymphatics. Conclusions Lymphatic dissemination of mesothelial and submesothelial cells is an uncommon and not well known phenomenon. Lymphatic dissemination is probably the route by which the mesothelial cells reach the lymphatic nodes. These cells may be mistaken for malignant cells.