Localized amyloidosis in squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix: electron microscopic features of nodular and star-like amyloid deposits.
An ultrastructural study of amyloid deposits in four cases of squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix was performed. The amyloid deposits reacted with anti-keratin antiserum on frozen sections. Amyloid deposits showed nodular (4 cases) and star-like forms (3 cases). Nodular amyloid deposits were composed of slightly whorled fibrils, measuring 7-10 nm in width. Some of them contained cellular debris and thicker, more electron-dense filaments than amyloid fibrils. In three cases, filamentous tumour cells and filamentous masses were observed together with amyloid. Star-like amyloid deposits were composed of bundles of straight amyloid fibrils. Some of the tumour cells in contact with star-like amyloid deposits had deep cytoplasmic invaginations, where closely packed amyloid fibrils were arrayed in parallel fashion. In addition, a few tumour cells had membrane-bound amyloid fibrils in the cytoplasm. It is suggested that nodular amyloid deposits are derived from the tumour cells through filamentous degeneration. Amyloid fibrils in star-like amyloid deposits are thought to be formed within the cytoplasm or in the vicinity of invaginated cytoplasmic membranes of the tumour cells.
First Department of Pathology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Japan.
T
T
Gondo
T
T
Ishihara
H
H
Kawano
F
F
Uchino
M
M
Takahashi
T
T
Iwata
N
N
Matsumoto
T
T
Yokota
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000682:Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000682:Amyloid