Premium
Melanocyte colonization of adenocarcinoma arising in an ovarian dermoid
Author(s) -
WAXMAN M.,
VULETIN J.C.,
ROSENBLATT P.,
HERZBERG F.P.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1986.tb02475.x
Subject(s) - melanosome , melanocyte , melanin , ovary , biology , colonization , pathology , ultrastructure , dermoid cyst , adenocarcinoma , cancer research , melanoma , anatomy , medicine , cancer , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
An adenocarcinoma which arose in a dermoid cyst of the ovary displayed areas of melanocyte colonization and pigmentation. Ultrastructural study revealed the presence of epithelial tumour cells and melanocytes; many tumour cells contained compound melanosomes, but not premelanosomes, suggesting transfer of melanin from melanocytes to tumour cells. Melanocyte colonization of malignant tumours is a curious phenomenon the significance of which remains to be elucidated.