title: Superficial leiomyomas of the gastrointestinal tract with interstitial cells of Cajal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some authors suggest common origin of gastrointestinal stromal tumors from stem cells, which may show diverse differentiation. There are reports in which cells morphologically identical to the interstitial cells of Cajal are found in deep leiomyomas. The aim of this study was to demonstrate CD117 positive cells in superficial gastrointestinal (GI) leiomyomas and to find other cells that would suggest diverse differentiation in histologically typical leiomyoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 8 cases of superficial leiomyomas and one deep leiomyoma, received in our institutions as endoscopically or surgically obtained material. The tumor sections were immunohistochemicaly stained with CD117, CD34, NF, S100, αSMA, desmin, caldesmon and mast cell antigen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All leiomyomas showed diffuse positivity for αSMA, caldesmon and desmin. All of them had CD117 and CD34 positive cells morphologically identical to the interstitial cells of Cajal between smooth muscle fibers, 5 had S-100 and NF positive cells and 2 showed positivity for GFAP. The cells were found in different quantity; they were usually diffusely scattered through the tumors without predilection site, forming small groups in some areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD177, CD34, S-100 and NF positive cells are present in superficial leiomyomas and they may suggest common origin of GI stromal tumors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Janevska
authors.affiliation: Department for Histopathology and Clinical Cytology, University Clinic for Radiotherapy and Oncology Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Adelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qerimi
authors.affiliation: Department for Histopathology and Clinical Cytology, University Clinic for Radiotherapy and Oncology Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Neli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basheska
authors.affiliation: Department for Histopathology and Clinical Cytology, University Clinic for Radiotherapy and Oncology Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stojkova
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Abdominal Surgery Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Vlado
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Janevski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jovanovic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Julija
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhivadinovik
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Liljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spasevska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
keywords: CD117; CD34; Cajal cells; Leiomyoma; gastrointestinal tract