Histological and cytogenetic findings in a malignant tumor of the chest wall and lung (Askin tumor).
This report describes a histological and cytogenetic study of a malignant tumor involving the chest wall and lung (Askin tumor) of a young girl. Although initially considered to represent a variant of Ewing's sarcoma, immunocytochemical studies disclosed neuron-specific enolase in neoplastic cells. Ultrastructural study revealed rare cells which contained microtubules and/or dense core neurosecretory type granules. Cytogenetic analysis of neoplastic cells disclosed a reciprocal translocation (11;22)(q24;q12) and occasional extrachromosomal structures interpreted as double minute chromosomes. The latter finding, an indication of gene amplification, is commonly identified in neural crest-derived neoplasms. These ultrastructural, immunocytochemical, and karyotypic data provide evidence in support of a neuroepithelial histogenesis for the Askin tumor.
D002648:Child; D002904:Chromosomes, Human, 21-22 and Y; D002906:Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D013909:Thorax / Q000473:pathology; D014178:Translocation, Genetic