title: Pigmented neuroectodermal tumour of infancy: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: The pigmented neuroectodermal tumour of infancy is a rare neoplasm of uncertain histogenesis which, in the majority of cases, arises in the maxilla and pursues a benign course. Currently, it would be classified in the group of peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumours. Histologically it is composed of two principal cell types: neuroblast-like and melanocyte-like. Three typical cases are presented herein, which appear to be the first examined with a panel of antibodies. The neuroblast-like cells labelled positively for neurone-specific enolase but were negative for S-100, neurofilaments, glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The melanocyte-like cells stained positively for neurone-specific enolase, vimentin and cytokeratin but were negative for S-100, neurofilaments, glial fibrillary acidic protein, EMA and CEA. The significance of these findings is discussed in the light of previous suggestions about the differentiation that these tumours show.
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase