[Neuroendocrine differentiation in ovarian mucinous tumors].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between neuroendocrine differentiation of ovarian mucinous tumors and its genesis.


METHODS
A morphologic study on 73 cases of ovarian mucinous tumors (32 benign, 20 borderline, 21 malignant) using immunohistochemical and immunohistochemical/histochemical double staining techniques.


RESULTS
The incidences of CgA positive cell in tumors of benign, borderline and malignant were 62.5%, 75%, 76% and that of 5-HT positive cells were 31.3%, 40%, 39% respectively. But these NEC were not evenly distributed. The interesting point was that in four cases of the benign tumors the number of CgA positive cell was more than 30 per cent localizing between the glandular basement membrane and the mucinous epithelial cells. There were also many intermediate cells containing both CgA and PAS positive granules.


CONCLUSIONS
The positive rate of CgA was increased corresponding to the lowering down of differentiation grades. The four cases of the benign tumors might be originating from a common stem cell, such as so-called amphocrine cell. The relationship between these four tumors and neuroendocrine differentiation in ovarian mucinous tumors remain further clarified.
Jiang
C
C
Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070.
Tan
Y
Y
Li
E
E
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis*; D018282:Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D018291:Cystadenoma, Mucinous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis*
D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D012701:Serotonin