Adenomatoid tumours: a mucin histochemical and immunohistochemical study

Our plain-English summary of Adenomatoid tumours: a mucin histochemical and immunohistochemical study, by M.J. Goddard, J.W. Grant (Histopathology, 1992).

The study

• Authors: M.J. Goddard, J.W. Grant
• Journal: Histopathology
• Published: 1992;20(1):57-61
• Cited by: 10 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

We have examined 16 cases of adenomatoid tumour using a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and also stained them for the presence of hyaluronidase-sensitive alcianophilic material. Fourteen cases expressed cytokeratins and a proportion of these also expressed S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, vimentin, and human milk fat globule protein 2. The same 14 cases also showed hyaluronidase-sensitive staining with alcian blue. No expression of factor VIII-related antigen was seen in these cases. We conclude that this provides further evidence of a mesothelial origin of these tumours. The remaining two cases did not express cytokeratins and no hyaluronidase-sensitive staining with alcian blue was seen. They did however express factor VIII-related antigen. Although they were morphologically indistinguishable from the other 14 cases, we suggest that they should be more properly regarded as angiomas.

In plain English

This laboratory study, from the Department of Histopathology at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, UK, examined the origin of adenomatoid tumours, which occur in the genital tract. The authors stained stored tissue from 16 of these tumours (12 from the uterus, three from the epididymis and one from the Fallopian tube) with alcian blue and with a panel of antibodies. The study did not examine asbestos or any other exposure. In 14 of the 16 tumours, the cells stained for cytokeratins but not for factor VIII-related antigen. They also showed alcian blue staining that was removed by hyaluronidase, the same pattern seen in control mesothelium. Of these 14, 13 expressed S-100 protein, 12 neuron-specific enolase, 11 vimentin and four HMFG2. The other two tumours showed factor VIII-related antigen but no cytokeratins. The authors concluded that the findings give further evidence that these tumours are of mesothelial origin. They said the two other cases, which supported an endothelial origin, are more correctly termed angiomas. The authors noted that staining patterns may reflect a tumour's line of differentiation rather than its origin.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Laboratory study of tumour tissue using mucin histochemistry (alcian blue with and without hyaluronidase) and immunohistochemistry with a panel of antibodies
• Who was studied: 16 adenomatoid tumours from the files of the Department of Histopathology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK: 12 from the uterus, three from the epididymis and one from the Fallopian tube. Control mesothelium came from hernial sacs removed at inguinal hernia repair. No dates for the cases are given.
• Exposure: No asbestos or other exposure was studied. The study concerned the tissue origin of the tumours, not their causes.
• Main results:
  • In 14 of the 16 tumours, the tumour cells stained for cytokeratins but showed no expression of factor VIII-related antigen.
  • The same 14 tumours showed alcian blue staining that was abolished by hyaluronidase pre-treatment. The same pattern was seen in the control peritoneal mesothelium.
  • Of the 14 cytokeratin-positive tumours, 13 expressed S-100 protein, 12 neuron-specific enolase, 11 vimentin and four human milk fat globule protein 2 (HMFG2).
  • The remaining two tumours stained for factor VIII-related antigen but not for cytokeratins. Both also expressed vimentin, one showed weak staining for neuron-specific enolase, and neither stained for S-100 protein or HMFG2.
  • Tumour cells rested on a basement membrane recognized by the type IV collagen antibody CIV/22 in seven of the 14 cytokeratin-positive tumours and in one of the two factor VIII-positive tumours.
  • Control mesothelium stained for cytokeratins and HMFG2 and weakly for S-100 protein. It did not stain for neuron-specific enolase, vimentin or factor VIII-related antigen.
  • The authors stated that the two factor VIII-positive tumours, although indistinguishable by light microscopy from the others, support an endothelial origin and are more correctly termed angiomas.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the findings in the 14 cytokeratin-positive tumours provide further evidence of a mesothelial origin of adenomatoid tumours. They suggested that the other two tumours should be regarded as angiomas.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The authors stated that the immunohistochemical staining pattern may reflect the tumour's line of differentiation rather than its histogenesis (origin).
  • The authors noted that conclusions on the origin of the tumour do not explain why it shows such a predilection for the genital tract.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Adenomatoid Tumor, Monoclonal, S-100.

Related studies

• Adenomatoid tumours: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural appraisal of their histogenesis — T.J. Stephenson, P.M. Mills (1986)
• Adenomatoid tumour of the epididymis: histochemical and ultrastructural study of 2 cases — M. Nistal, F. Contreras, et al. (1978)
• Diagnostic histochemical and immunohistochemical studies in malignant mesothelioma — J.G. Lucas, S.E. Tuttle (1987)
• The distinction of adenocarcinoma from malignant mesothelioma in cell blocks of effusions: the role of routine mucin histochemistry and immunohistochemical assessment of carcinoembryonic antigen, keratin proteins, epithelial membrane antigen, and milk fat globule-derived antigen — E.S. Cibas, J.M. Corson, et al. (1987)
• Peritoneal malignant mesothelioma versus serous papillary adenocarcinoma. A histochemical and immunohistochemical comparison — D.J. Bollinger, M.R. Wick, et al. (1989)
• Immunoperoxidase localization of keratin proteins, carcinoembryonic antigen, and factor VIII in adenomatoid tumors: evidence for a mesothelial derivation — J.W. Said, G. Nash, et al. (1982)

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