Histochemistry of mucin secreting components in mucoepidermoid and adenosquamous carcinoma of the oesophagus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the direction of differentiation of the mucin secreting components in a rare group of oesophageal tumours--oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas with prominent mucin secreting components (mucoepidermoid carcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas).


METHODS
In a review of 617 cases of primary carcinoma of the oesophagus, 16 cases of squamous cell carcinoma with prominent mucin secreting components were studied using a battery of histochemical techniques.


RESULTS
The mucin produced by these tumours was mixed and included a variable content of enzyme labile sialomucin (positive for mucicarmine, periodic acid Schiff, and alcian blue, and sensitive to sialidase digestion and negative for high iron diamine-alcian blue). Retrospective analysis of endoscopic biopsy specimens taken from these tumours showed that mucin was present in five (42%) cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The glandular component of this group of tumours histochemically differentiated in the direction of oesophageal glands: examination of the mucin secreting component in squamous cell carcinoma in resected specimens is therefore required for recording the true incidence of this type of tumour.
Lam
K Y
KY
Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong.
Loke
S L
SL
Ma
L T
LT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D009077:Mucins