title: The alveolar epithelial differentiation of glandular inner lining cells in a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung: a case report.
abstract: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a common malignant epithelial tumor of salivary glands, but relatively rare in lung. The histological features of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung are similar to its counterpart arising from the salivary glands. Here, we reported a special tumor that occurred in the medial segment of the right lower lobe in a 22-year-old man. This tumor exhibited typical features of mucoepidermoid carcinoma with 3 cell types: squamoid cells, mucin-secreting cells and cells of intermediate type. These 3 types of cells organized into cysts, nests, glands and solid patterns. Specially, the inner lining cells of some glandular structures were uniform cuboidal and hobnail-like, similar to the alveolar epithelial cells. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed that the inner lining cells of glandular structures were positive for thyroid transcription factor-1 and surfactant protein-B, used as markers of alveolar epithelial cells, and were negative for p63. These findings for the first time demonstrated a rare alveolar epithelial differentiation of glandular inner lining cells in a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung.
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authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xu-Yong
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Qing-Chang
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: En-Hua
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology*; D037701:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B / Q000032:analysis; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000614412:NKX2-1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D037701:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B; C115051:TP63 protein, human; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins