Ultrastructural and histological study of 11 bronchial carcinoids. Evidence for different types.
Seven of eleven bronchial carcinoids investigated showed cells with small granules resembling P cells which have already been described in human fetal and adult lung; two of these P cell tumours showed distinctive paraganglioid features. One tumour showed peculiar ultrastructural findings resembling closely those previously reported by Black (1969) in a so called "pulmonary oncocytoma". Three remaining cases showed large secretory granules resembling those of type 3 cells already described by Hage (1973b) in bronchial carcinoids; one of these tumours produced large amounts of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT). It is concluded that, on cytological grounds, at least two types of tumours can be distinguished among bronchial carcinoids, i.e. P cell and type 3 cell tumours. Moreover, two varieties of P cell carcinoids have been recognized, showing either the less frequent and more distinctive paraganglioid structure or the more common trabecular structure.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
D012701:Serotonin