title: Desmin positivity in primitive neuroectodermal tumors of childhood.
abstract: In this report, we describe two rosette-forming primitive neuroectodermal tumors that were found to contain desmin by both immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Electron microscopy on both cases was consistent with primitive neuroectodermal tumors and revealed that the tumor cells contained cytoplasmic bundles of intermediate filaments. In both cases, studies for MyoD1 protein using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were negative. Thus, the detection of desmin in a pediatric neoplasm does not absolutely exclude the diagnosis of primitive neuroectodermal tumor and should not be considered as prima facie evidence that a small-cell tumor is a rhabdomyosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38101.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Parham
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rutledge
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Houghton
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D003893:Desmin / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008637:Mesenchymoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D017570:MyoD Protein; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018241:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003893:Desmin; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D017570:MyoD Protein; C057363:MyoD1 myogenic differentiation protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D015534:Trans-Activators