title: Periodic acid-Schiff-lead hematoxylin as a marker for the endocrine phenotype in human lung tumors.
abstract: Periodic acid-Schiff-lead hematoxylin is evaluated for light microscopic diagnosis of pulmonary endocrine cell tumors. Twenty-eight aldehyde-fixed primary human lung tumors were examined by electron microscopy. Fifteen were classified as endocrine (one carcinoid, six small-cell carcinomas, and an "atypical" group of eight with diverse histologies), based on possession of characteristic submicronic, dense-cored cytoplasmic granules. Electron probe analysis in the carcinoid tumor established that dense-cored granules were equivalent to lead hematoxylin-stained granules, which were visible in glycol methacrylate sections as seen on light microscopy. Lead hematoxylin-positive granules were also seen in seven of eight "atypical" tumors, three small cell carcinomas, a glucagonoma, and a chemodectoma. Findings were equivocal in two small cell carcinomas, and negative in all other lung tumors. In overall diagnostic acuity, periodic acid-Schiff-lead hematoxylin equals electron microscopy, surpasses argyrophilia, serotonin fluorescence, and immunolocalization of polypeptide hormones. It is approached only by antineuron-specific enolase immunoreactivity.
mesh_terms: D001578:Benzopyrans; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005935:Glucagonoma / Q000473:pathology; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008689:Methacrylates; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D010236:Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal / Q000473:pathology; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D008689:Methacrylates; C018328:lead haematoxylin; D012701:Serotonin; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate; D006416:Hematoxylin