title: [Significance of electron microscopy in the diagnosis of undifferentiated neoplasms of the nose and nasal sinuses].
abstract: Undifferentiated neoplasms of nose and nasal sinuses are very rare. They are very difficult to diagnose by both light and electron microscopies. Twelve cases of undifferentiated neoplasms of nose and nasal sinuses were collected and the morphological features under light and electron microscopes compared histologically. The results showed that correct diagnoses were only obtained in six cases by light microscopy. The other six cases were diagnosed by electron microscopy as malignant melanomas in two cases, leiomyosarcoma in one case, olfactory neuroblastomas in two cases and malignant fibrous histiocytoma in one case. It showed that a correct diagnosis for undifferentiated neoplasm of nose and nasal sinuses was impossible to obtain by light microscopy only. Poorly differentiated olfactory neuroblastoma was also difficult to diagnose under electron microscope because the neurosecretory cytoplasmic granules were not easy to find and several hours would be required to search for them under electron microscope.
authors.affiliation: PLA General Hospital, Beijing.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D018241:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000648:ultrastructure*