Open AccessMERKEL CELL TUMOR OF THE SKIN Ultrastructural and Immunohistochemical Studies
Author(s) -
Yoshida Yutaka,
Takei Takashi,
Hattori Atsuo,
Kaku Tohru,
Yokokawa Kinya,
Mori Michio
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
acta patholigica japonica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 0001-6632
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1984.tb00567.x
Subject(s) - cytoplasm , merkel cell , pathology , immunohistochemistry , microfilament , keratin , biology , dermis , ultrastructure , intermediate filament , cell , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , cytoskeleton , medicine , carcinoma , merkel cell carcinoma , genetics
A skin tumor of a 66‐y‐ear‐old female was investigated morphologically and immunohistochemically. The tumor was located within the dermis and comprised of rounded cells with scanty cytoplasm, which proliferated forming a small nest or trabecular arrangement. Electron microscopic observation indicated the presence of dense‐core granules within the tumor cell cytoplasm suggesting that the tumor was derived from Merkel cells. Occasionally clusters or bundles of the intermediate filaments were found in the perinuclear cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Each tumor cell was connected with des‐mosomes. Immunohistochemical staining with anti‐keratin antiserum showed positive reaction at the perinuclear cytoplasm of the tumor cells indicating that the cluster of the microfilaments presumably contains keratin. Conversely S‐100 protein was negative in the tumor cells. The results obtained strongly suggest that the tumor or Merkel cell was considered to be derived from the epidermal immature cells rather than from the neural crest. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 34: 1433–1440. 1984.