title: Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: quantitative study on enterochromaffin cells in hamartomatous intestine polyps.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peutz-Jeghers (PJ) syndrome is a rare familial disorder with the autosomal transmission characterized by multiple intestinal polyps, mucocutaneous pigmentation and increased incidence of various malignancies. Some clinical manifestations of PJ syndrome may be associated with the serotonin secretion from the enterochromaffin cells (EC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Since no data have been reported so far regarding EC cells in PJ polyps, the aim of our study was to quantitatively investigate EC population in hamartomatous intestinal polyps in patients with the PJ syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The samples of surgically removed PJ polyps from family members with the PJ syndrome were collected during 34-year follow-up period. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of twenty-one PJ polyps were stained with HE, AB-PAS, Van Gieson, Fontana-Masson, FIF and Grimelius. For immunohistochemical analysis, the following antibodies were used: chromogranin A, serotonin, Ki-67, desmin, vimentin and cytokeratin in order to eliminate differential diagnostic possibilities and to confirm diagnosis of PJ polyps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong EC cell hyperplasia was observed within the tissue of the investigated polyps. Statistical analysis demonstrated significantly higher content of EC cells in PJ polyps than in the normal ileal mucosa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Marked hyperplasia of EC cells within the PJ polyps may be the most important contributor to functional disorders in patients with the PJ syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia. krstic.miljan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Miljan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krstić
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vuka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Katić
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Slavica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stojnev
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mihailović
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marijola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mojsilović
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Radovanović
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zivković
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004759:Enterochromaffin Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010580:Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult