title: Evaluation of histochemical methods for the detection of intracytoplasmic mucin in serous effusions.
abstract: We have studied 25 serous effusions containing definitive morphologic evidence of adenocarcinoma to evaluate the ability of two mucin stains (Mayer's mucicarmine, D-PAS) to detect intracytoplasmic mucin in both cytologic (cytospin) and corresponding histological (cell block) preparations. Mucicarmine stain was positive in six of 25 (24%) cytospins and 13 of 25 (52%) cell blocks. D-PAS was positive in 19 of 25 (76%) cytospins and 20 of 25 (80%) cell blocks. Eight cases were identified which showed mucicarmine positivity in the cell block but not the corresponding cytospin; prolonging incubation time resulted in a positive mucicarmine in cytospin preparations for seven of these cases. We conclude that: (i) D-PAS is a more sensitive stain for the detection of intracytoplasmic mucin in all preparations; (ii) mucicarmine shows preferential staining for cell blocks; (iii) alterations in the staining protocol may permit mucin detection by mucicarmine staining in cytologic preparations in a significant number of cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: De Frias
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Horcher
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D002329:Carmine; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D009077:Mucins; C029618:mucicarmine; D002329:Carmine