Expression of mucin-2 and correlation with PAS-alcian blue stain in Barrett's esophagus.
OBJECTIVE
Hematoxylin-eosin stain may fail to show intestinal metaplasia in Barrett's esophagus, and PAS-alcian blue may present difficulties of interpretation due to its more heterogeneous staining. We investigated whether Mucin-2 is a good substitute for PAS-alcian blue in the detection of goblet cells.


METHODS
Biopsy specimens from 47 Barrett's esophagus patients were stained with hematoxylineosin and PAS-alcian blue. Mucin-2 expression was evaluated with monoclonal antibody. The intra- and interobserver agreements about the expression of Mucin-2 and PAS-alcian blue stain were determined by kappa statistics.


RESULTS
PAS-alcian blue and Mucin-2 were positive in all cases. Mucin expression was positive in goblet cells and few columnar cells. PAS-alcian blue showed heterogeneous staining. The columnar epithelium and the submucosal glands were also stained. Intra- and interobserver agreement in the identification of intestinal metaplasia was 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
Mucin-2 agreed fully with PAS-alcian blue. The intra- and interobserver agreement was perfect, justifying its use in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus.
Lopes
César V
CV
Departmens of Gastroenterology, Porto Alegre School of Medical Sciences (FFFCMPA)/Santa Casa Hospital, Porto Alegre, Brazil. cevele@terra.com.br
Pereira-Lima
Júlio
J
Hartmann
Antônio
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000423:Alcian Blue; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis*; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
D004396:Coloring Agents; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins; D000423:Alcian Blue