A colonic adenocarcinoma with argentaffin cells. An immunoperoxidase study demonstrating the presence of numerous neuroendocrine products.
A well-differentiated colonic adenocarcinoma containing large numbers of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine cells is presented. The presence of neurosecretory granules was confirmed by electron microscopy. Immunocytochemistry showed large numbers of serotonin-containing tumor cells and lesser numbers of somatostatin, gastrin, motilin, secretin and neurotensin-containing cells. Some of these hormones are not normally present in the colon in significant numbers of cells. The presence of several cell types within a single tumor supports the concept that the normal epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa are derived from a common endodermal stem cell. There exists a spectrum of tumors ranging from the classical adenocarcinoma to the classical carcinoid, and this report identifies the position of this case within that spectrum.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000368:Aged; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004759:Enterochromaffin Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000032:analysis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000032:analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis
D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D012701:Serotonin; D009496:Neurotensin; D013004:Somatostatin