Middle ear adenoma is an amphicrine tumor: why call it adenoma?
Middle ear adenoma (MEA) is a rare tumor postulated to take origin from the lining epithelium of the middle ear cavity. The authors report on a case of MEA arising in a 53-year old woman suffering from a sensation of fullness in her left ear, otalgia, and light left-sided hearing loss. Histopathologically, the lesion was composed of cuboidal and polygonal cells displaying a trabecular, tubulo-glandular, and solid pattern of growth. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells diffusely stained with anti-vimentin antibodies and were focally positive for chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase, lysozyme, and cytokeratins AE1/AE3. The majority of tumor cells showed weak and diffuse staining with both anti-PP and anti-ACTH antibodies and intense positivity with anti-glucagon and anti Leu-7 antibodies. Ultrastructural investigation revealed both mucinous-glandular and neuroendocrine differentiation. The authors suggest that the appropriate terminology would be adeno-carcinoid or amphicrine tumor of the middle ear rather than "adenoma," a term that does not reflect its dual nature.
Ketabchi
S
S
Dipartimento di Patologia Umana ed Oncologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italia.
Massi
D
D
Franchi
A
A
Vannucchi
P
P
Santucci
M
M
D000236:Adenoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor