title: Ultrastructure of the primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET).
abstract: We report a prospective series of consecutive cases of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) studied by electron microscopy. Virtually all specimens showed a differentiation along neuroblastic lines as evidenced by the presence of neurites, dense-cored vesicles, microtubules and adhesive plaque junctions. We observed also numerous intracytoplasmic cilia and autophagic vacuoles. Synaptic specializations were only rarely seen. We conclude that PNET is a tumor category which is not undifferentiated ("primitive") and clearly exhibits features of neuroblastic differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Electron Microscopic Laboratory, Medical Academy, Lódź.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alwasiak
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Papierz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kolasa
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wegrzyn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zakrzewski
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polis
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Liberski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018242:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011446:Prospective Studies