Fibrillary cytoplasmic inclusions in neoplastic Paneth cells.
Paneth cell differentiation was investigated in two colorectal carcinomas. Ultrastructural study showed a range of granules and, in one case, fibrillary cytoplasmic inclusions. Similar inclusions in normal Paneth cells have been associated with zinc deficiency. However, there was no clinical evidence of abnormal zinc metabolism in this patient, nor were inclusions seen in adjacent non-neoplastic Paneth cells. It is speculated that these fibrillary inclusions might reflect an intrinsic zinc-related metabolic defect in the tumour cells.
Watson
P H
PH
Department of Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged