title: Mucin-producing bronchioloalveolar-cell carcinoma. With special reference to a characteristic structure revealed by phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin staining.
abstract: In four cases of bronchioloalveolar-cell carcinoma of the mucin-producing type, the cells were characterized electron microscopically by cored microvilli seen on the free surface of the tumor cells, structures that corresponded well to the phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin (PTAH) stained structures seen by light microscopy in histologic specimens. The exfoliative cytology specimens contained corresponding PTAH-stained structures on the cell surfaces, namely, a prominent cell membrane with a "beaded" or "peg-like" configuration and, in places, a "feathery" nature, findings quite dissimilar to the surfaces of other well-differentiated adenocarcinoma cells. The cytologic specimens also exhibited characteristic nuclear indentations and tightly connected cell groupings. These results indicate the existence of a type of bronchioloalveolar-cell carcinoma not derived from type II alveolar epithelial cells or Clara cells.
mesh_terms: D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D001578:Benzopyrans; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008871:Microvilli / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D009077:Mucins; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid; D006416:Hematoxylin