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Case Studies
Cytologic Characteristics of Thymic Adenocarcinoma with Enteric Differentiation: A Study of Four Fine-Needle Aspiration Specimens
Ah-Young Kwon, Joungho Han, Hae-yon Cho, Seokhwi Kim, Heejin Bang, Jiyeon Hyeon
J Pathol Transl Med. 2017;51(5):509-512.   Published online August 4, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2017.03.22
  • 6,722 View
  • 126 Download
  • 5 Web of Science
  • 7 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Thymic adenocarcinoma is extremely rare. Although its histologic features have been occasionally reported, a lack of description of the cytologic features has hampered the prompt and accurate diagnosis of this condition. Herein, we describe the cytologic findings and histology of four aspiration cytology specimens of thymic adenocarcinoma. The specimens were obtained from primary tumors, metastatic lymph nodes, and pericardial effusions. All four specimens showed three-dimensional glandular clusters with a loss of polarity and nuclear overlapping. One specimen had extensive extracellular mucinous material. Three specimens contained tumor cells with intracytoplasmic vacuoles. While the specimen with extracellular mucin showed relatively mild cytologic atypia, other specimens exhibited more atypical cytologic changes: irregular nuclear membranes, a coarse chromatin pattern, and prominent nucleoli. The cytologic features were correlated with the histologic features in each case of enteric type thymic adenocarcinoma. The differential diagnosis included other thymic carcinomas, yolk sac tumors, and metastatic adenocarcinoma from the lung or colorectum.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Case report: Primary adenocarcinoma NOS of the thymus and cytological features
    Jonathan Willner, Osvaldo Hernandez, Lea Azour, Andre L. Moreira
    Diagnostic Cytopathology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Systemic chemotherapy for unresectable or recurrent primary thymic adenocarcinoma of enteric type
    Xiaofang Gao
    International Cancer Conference Journal.2022; 12(1): 46.     CrossRef
  • Thymic adenocarcinoma accompanied by type A thymoma and pulmonary minimally invasive adenocarcinoma and harboring distinct gene alterations
    Yi-Wen Zheng, Lin-Lin Bai, Gui-Yang Jiang, Xu-Yong Lin, Yang Liu, Hong-Tao Xu
    Medicine.2021; 100(15): e25254.     CrossRef
  • A case report: primary thymic adenocarcinoma with enteric differentiation
    Yuuki Kou, Hirokazu Tanaka, Nobuhisa Yamazaki, Hiroyoshi Watanabe, Makoto Sonobe
    The Journal of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery.2020; 34(2): 107.     CrossRef
  • Primary thymic adenocarcinoma with an aggressive clinical course: An autopsy case showing signet ring cell‐like features
    Ayako Shiono, Takashi Fujino, Kyoichi Kaira, Tomomi Kato, Masanori Yasuda, Kunihiko Kobayashi, Hiroshi Kagamu
    Thoracic Cancer.2020; 11(12): 3609.     CrossRef
  • Primary Thymic Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma: A Currently Unrecognized Variant
    Richard Benedict Supan Roxas, Marie Christine Fajatin Bernardo, Araceli Pacis Jacoba, Janet Lim-Dy, Anarose Cariaga Alvarado, Jasna Metovic, Laura Annaratone, Mauro Papotti
    International Journal of Surgical Pathology.2019; 27(3): 315.     CrossRef
  • Disseminated and massive tumor burden in a case of primary thymic mucinous adenocarcinoma
    Hui-Wen Liu, Chih-Yi Liu, Yi-Chen Yeh
    Journal of Cancer Research and Practice.2019; 6(3): 151.     CrossRef
A Rare Case of Primary Tubular Adenocarcinoma of the Thymus, Enteric Immunophenotype: A Case Study and Review of the Literature
Hae Yoen Jung, Hyundeuk Cho, Jin-Haeng Chung, Sang Byoung Bae, Ji-Hye Lee, Hyun Ju Lee, Si-Hyong Jang, Mee-Hye Oh
J Pathol Transl Med. 2015;49(4):331-334.   Published online June 1, 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/jptm.2015.04.16
  • 8,956 View
  • 82 Download
  • 10 Web of Science
  • 12 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Thymic carcinomas are uncommon malignant tumors, and thymic adenocarcinomas are extremely rare. Here, we describe a case of primary thymic adenocarcinoma in a 59-year-old woman. Histological examination of the tumor revealed tubular morphology with expression of cytokeratin 20 and caudal-type homeobox 2 according to immunohistochemistry, suggesting enteric features. Extensive clinical and radiological studies excluded the possibility of an extrathymic primary tumor. A review of the literature revealed only two global cases of primary tubular adenocarcinomas of the thymus with enteric immunophenotype.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary thymic adenocarcinoma: A single‐center retrospective analysis
    Qian Hong, Rui Han, Chen Chen, Fuquan Wang, Sining Zhang, Chenguang Zhao, Fang Li, Juwei Mu, Jiagen Li
    Thoracic Cancer.2024; 15(24): 1815.     CrossRef
  • Case report: Primary adenocarcinoma NOS of the thymus and cytological features
    Jonathan Willner, Osvaldo Hernandez, Lea Azour, Andre L. Moreira
    Diagnostic Cytopathology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Enteric-type thymic adenocarcinoma: a case report and literature review focusing on prognosis based on histological subtypes
    Rurika Hamanaka, Kei Nakano, Takaaki Tsuboi, Kazuhito Hatanaka, Mitsutomo Kohno, Ryota Masuda, Masayuki Iwazaki
    General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.2022; 70(5): 501.     CrossRef
  • Metastatic thymic-enteric adenocarcinoma responding to chemoradiation plus anti-angiogenic therapy: A case report
    Man Li, Xiao-Yu Pu, Li-Hua Dong, Peng-Yu Chang
    World Journal of Clinical Cases.2021; 9(7): 1676.     CrossRef
  • A case report: primary thymic adenocarcinoma with enteric differentiation
    Yuuki Kou, Hirokazu Tanaka, Nobuhisa Yamazaki, Hiroyoshi Watanabe, Makoto Sonobe
    The Journal of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery.2020; 34(2): 107.     CrossRef
  • Thymic enteric type adenocarcinoma: A case report with cytological features
    Marie Tamai, Mitsuaki Ishida, Yusuke Ebisu, Hisashi Okamoto, Chika Miyasaka, Chisato Ohe, Yoshiko Uemura, Tomohito Saito, Tomohiro Murakawa, Koji Tsuta
    Diagnostic Cytopathology.2018; 46(1): 92.     CrossRef
  • Histologic characteristics of thymic adenocarcinomas: Clinicopathologic study of a nine-case series and a review of the literature
    Ah-Young Kwon, Joungho Han, Jinah Chu, Yong Soo Choi, Byeong-Ho Jeong, Myung-Ju Ahn, Yong Chan Ahn
    Pathology - Research and Practice.2017; 213(2): 106.     CrossRef
  • Characterization of genetic aberrations in a single case of metastatic thymic adenocarcinoma
    Yeonghun Lee, Sehhoon Park, Se-Hoon Lee, Hyunju Lee
    BMC Cancer.2017;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Cytologic Characteristics of Thymic Adenocarcinoma with Enteric Differentiation: A Study of Four Fine-Needle Aspiration Specimens
    Ah-Young Kwon, Joungho Han, Hae-yon Cho, Seokhwi Kim, Heejin Bang, Jiyeon Hyeon
    Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine.2017; 51(5): 509.     CrossRef
  • Mucinous cystic tumor with CK20 and CDX2 expression of the thymus: Is this a benign counterpart of adenocarcinoma of the thymus, enteric type?
    Jun Akiba, Hiroshi Harada, Shintaro Yokoyama, Toshihiro Hashiguchi, Akihiko Kawahara, Masahiro Mitsuoka, Shinzo Takamori, Hirohisa Yano
    Pathology International.2016; 66(1): 29.     CrossRef
  • Colon cancer chemotherapy for a patient with CDX2-expressing metastatic thymic adenocarcinoma: a case report and literature review
    Akihiko Sawaki, Mikiya Ishihara, Yuji Kozuka, Hiroyasu Oda, Satoshi Tamaru, Yumiko Sugawara, Yoshiki Yamashita, Toshiro Mizuno, Taizo Shiraishi, Naoyuki Katayama
    International Cancer Conference Journal.2016; 5(2): 113.     CrossRef
  • Metastatic Thymic Adenocarcinoma from Colorectal Cancer
    Mina Lee, Suk Jin Choi, Yong Han Yoon, Joung-Taek Kim, Wan Ki Baek, Young Sam Kim
    The Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.2015; 48(6): 447.     CrossRef
Case Reports
Primary Thymic Mucinous Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report
Jamshid Abdul-Ghafar, Suk-Joong Yong, Woocheol Kwon, Il Hwan Park, Soon-Hee Jung
Korean J Pathol. 2012;46(4):377-381.   Published online August 23, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2012.46.4.377
  • 7,825 View
  • 75 Download
  • 19 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF

Primary thymic mucinous adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare aggressive subtype of thymic carcinoma. With a review of literatures, only nine cases have been reported up to present. A 36-year-old woman was admitted for further evaluation and treatment of a mediastinal mass. The patient had no medical history of cancer. The clinicoradiological examination disclosed no tumor elsewhere. After the surgical excision of mediastinal mass, it was grossly a round semi-solid mass with mucin-filled cystic areas. Microscopically solid areas showed cords, small nests and dilated glands infiltrating the fibrotic parenchyma, while the cystic areas were lined by mucinous epithelium with tumor cells floating in extracellular-mucin pools. Some cystic walls underwent malignant transformation of the benign thymic epithelium. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK20, CD5, and CDX-2, and negative for thyroid transcription factor-1. In conclusion, the mucinous thymic adenocarcinoma should be recognized as a separate histopathological entity and considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal carcinomas.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the thymus
    Kohei Soejima, Hidehito Matsuoka
    The Journal of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery.2024; 38(6): 545.     CrossRef
  • Stage IV thymic mucinous adenocarcinoma under long-term disease control after primary tumor resection: A case report
    Chihaya Maeda, Tomoyuki Hishida, Kyohei Masai, Keisuke Asakura, Katsura Emoto, Hisao Asamura
    The Journal of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery.2022; 36(2): 156.     CrossRef
  • Lenvatinib-refractory thymic mucinous carcinoma with PIK3CA mutation
    Akihiro Tsukaguchi, Shoichi Ihara, Hironao Yasuoka, Seigo Minami
    International Cancer Conference Journal.2022; 12(1): 36.     CrossRef
  • Thymic mucinous adenocarcinoma: A case report
    Hideki Tsubouchi, Naoki Ozeki, Yuka Suzuki, Koji Kawaguchi, Takayuki Fukui, Toyofumi F. Chen-Yoshikawa
    The Journal of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery.2021; 35(5): 547.     CrossRef
  • Metastatic thymic-enteric adenocarcinoma responding to chemoradiation plus anti-angiogenic therapy: A case report
    Man Li, Xiao-Yu Pu, Li-Hua Dong, Peng-Yu Chang
    World Journal of Clinical Cases.2021; 9(7): 1676.     CrossRef
  • Primary Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Thymus: a Rare Type of Thymic Carcinoma—Case Report
    Koichi Tomoshige, Tomoshi Tsuchiya, Keitaro Matsumoto, Takuro Miyazaki, Ryoichiro Doi, Ryusuke Machino, Satoshi Mizoguchi, Takamune Matumoto, Yutaka Maeda, Takeshi Nagayasu
    SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine.2021; 3(5): 1233.     CrossRef
  • Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the thymus: A case report
    Tomoka Hamahiro, Ryo Maeda, Takanori Ayabe, Yuichiro Sato, Masaki Tomita
    Respiratory Medicine Case Reports.2021; 34: 101497.     CrossRef
  • Primary Thymic Mucinous Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report Focusing on Radiological Findings and Review of the Literature
    Young Hoon Koo, Jae Wook Lee, Jai Soung Park, Kyung Eun Shin, Heon Lee, Susie Chin
    Iranian Journal of Radiology.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the thymus: report of a case
    Fumihiko Kinoshita, Fumihiro Shoji, Kazuki Takada, Gouji Toyokawa, Tatsuro Okamoto, Tokujiro Yano, Yoshinao Oda, Yoshihiko Maehara
    General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.2018; 66(2): 111.     CrossRef
  • Thymic enteric type adenocarcinoma: A case report with cytological features
    Marie Tamai, Mitsuaki Ishida, Yusuke Ebisu, Hisashi Okamoto, Chika Miyasaka, Chisato Ohe, Yoshiko Uemura, Tomohito Saito, Tomohiro Murakawa, Koji Tsuta
    Diagnostic Cytopathology.2018; 46(1): 92.     CrossRef
  • Primary thymic adenocarcinomas: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 16 cases with emphasis on the morphological spectrum of differentiation
    Neda Kalhor, Cesar A. Moran
    Human Pathology.2018; 74: 73.     CrossRef
  • Histologic characteristics of thymic adenocarcinomas: Clinicopathologic study of a nine-case series and a review of the literature
    Ah-Young Kwon, Joungho Han, Jinah Chu, Yong Soo Choi, Byeong-Ho Jeong, Myung-Ju Ahn, Yong Chan Ahn
    Pathology - Research and Practice.2017; 213(2): 106.     CrossRef
  • Cytologic Characteristics of Thymic Adenocarcinoma with Enteric Differentiation: A Study of Four Fine-Needle Aspiration Specimens
    Ah-Young Kwon, Joungho Han, Hae-yon Cho, Seokhwi Kim, Heejin Bang, Jiyeon Hyeon
    Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine.2017; 51(5): 509.     CrossRef
  • Mucinous cystic tumor with CK20 and CDX2 expression of the thymus: Is this a benign counterpart of adenocarcinoma of the thymus, enteric type?
    Jun Akiba, Hiroshi Harada, Shintaro Yokoyama, Toshihiro Hashiguchi, Akihiko Kawahara, Masahiro Mitsuoka, Shinzo Takamori, Hirohisa Yano
    Pathology International.2016; 66(1): 29.     CrossRef
  • Colon cancer chemotherapy for a patient with CDX2-expressing metastatic thymic adenocarcinoma: a case report and literature review
    Akihiko Sawaki, Mikiya Ishihara, Yuji Kozuka, Hiroyasu Oda, Satoshi Tamaru, Yumiko Sugawara, Yoshiki Yamashita, Toshiro Mizuno, Taizo Shiraishi, Naoyuki Katayama
    International Cancer Conference Journal.2016; 5(2): 113.     CrossRef
  • Adenocarcinoma of the Thymus, Enteric Type
    Bernhard Moser, Ana Iris Schiefer, Stefan Janik, Alexander Marx, Helmut Prosch, Wolfgang Pohl, Barbara Neudert, Anke Scharrer, Walter Klepetko, Leonhard Müllauer
    American Journal of Surgical Pathology.2015; 39(4): 541.     CrossRef
  • A Rare Case of Primary Thymic Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Small Cell Lung Cancer
    Eun Na Cho, Hye Sung Park, Tae Hoon Kim, Min Kwang Byun, Hyung Jung Kim, Chul Min Ahn, Yoon Soo Chang
    Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases.2015; 78(2): 112.     CrossRef
  • A Rare Case of Primary Tubular Adenocarcinoma of the Thymus, Enteric Immunophenotype: A Case Study and Review of the Literature
    Hae Yoen Jung, Hyundeuk Cho, Jin-Haeng Chung, Sang Byoung Bae, Ji-Hye Lee, Hyun Ju Lee, Si-Hyong Jang, Mee-Hye Oh
    Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine.2015; 49(4): 331.     CrossRef
  • Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the thymus: a case report
    Tadashi Sakane, Kotaro Mizuno, Risa Oda, Takuya Matsui, Makoto Ito, Takeshi Yamada
    The Journal of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery.2014; 28(7): 904.     CrossRef
Cytologic Findings of Thyroid Carcinoma Showing Thymus-like Differentiation: A Case Report
Sunhee Chang, Mee Joo, Hanseong Kim
Korean J Pathol. 2012;46(3):302-305.   Published online June 22, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2012.46.3.302
  • 9,278 View
  • 78 Download
  • 14 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF

Carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation (CASTLE) is a rare carcinoma of the thyroid or adjacent soft tissue of the neck with a histologic resemblance to thymic epithelial tumors. Although the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) plays a central role in the initial evaluation of thyroid nodules, few reports about the cytologic findings of CASTLE have been found according to a review of literatures. We report cytologic findings of a case of CASTLE. A 34-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of sore throat. The FNA showed that the smear was composed of three dimensional clusters and sheets. The tumor cells were round to ovoid with high nuclear : cytoplasmic ratios. The nuclei were vesicular with small nucleoli. There were some tumor cells showing keratinization. Some lymphocytes were found on the background and within clusters. The presence of poorly-differentiated tumor cells with a focal keratinization and a lymphocytic background on the FNA is suggestive of CASTLE.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Coexistence of intrathyroid thymic carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report and literature review
    Maryam Vajihinejad, Ali Ataei, Mohammad Pashmchi, Ali Aledavoud, Vahid Zand, Mohammad Ali Broomand, Mohammad Mohammadi, Niloofar Zare Reshkuiyeh
    Frontiers in Oncology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
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    Ear, Nose & Throat Journal.2023; 102(9): 584.     CrossRef
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    ADVANCED ULTRASOUND IN DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY.2022; 6(2): 58.     CrossRef
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    Oncology Letters.2016; 11(2): 1321.     CrossRef
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Original Articles
Clinicopathological Analysis of 21 Thymic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Soomin Ahn, Jae Jun Lee, Sang Yun Ha, Chang Ohk Sung, Jhingook Kim, Joungho Han
Korean J Pathol. 2012;46(3):221-225.   Published online June 22, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2012.46.3.221
  • 8,755 View
  • 91 Download
  • 29 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Background

Thymic neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are uncommon, for which there is no established information available because of a limited number of epidemiological study in Asia.

Methods

We reviewed 21 cases of surgically resected thymic NECs, and evaluated their pathological and clinical features.

Results

It showed male predominance (male/female ratio, 15/6) with wide age range from 20 to 72 years (mean age, 49 years). All 21 cases were divided into two types according to the World Health Organization criteria: atypical carcinoid (n=18) and large cell NEC (n=3). Three cases of atypical carcinoid (AC) were associated with ectopic Cushing's syndrome. All the patients (3/3) with large cell NEC (3/3) and 16.7% (3/18) of those with AC died of tumor progression. Common sites of metastasis included lung, lymph node, brain, lumbar spine, mediastinum, bone, and liver.

Conclusions

In conclusion, thymic neuroendocrine tumors carry a poor prognosis. Regarding the tumor classification, our results showed that a vast majority of carcinoids in the thymus correspond to ACs. In addition, our results also indicate that typical carcinoid is a very rare entity. Some cases of AC exhibited a large size, solid pattern and they showed aggressive clinical behavior, which highlights the spectrum of histologic appearances of thymic NECs.

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Differences in Expression of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and Microvessel Density in Colorectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis.
Eun Hui Jeong, Young Kim, Byeong Woo Min, Kyung Hwa Lee, Hyun Soo Kim, Jae Hyuk Lee
Korean J Pathol. 2010;44(6):571-580.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2010.44.6.571
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AbstractAbstract PDF
BACKGROUND
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms and is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Metastasis to the liver is a frequent event in patients with CRC. An essential step in the metastatic cascade is angiogenesis.
METHODS
This study included 45 patients who underwent a partial colectomy with hepatic resection for CRC with hepatic metastases. Immunohistochemistry was performed using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, and CD34 antibodies to examine the relationship between CRC with liver metastases and angiogenesis.
RESULTS
CRC showed significantly stronger expression of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 than liver metastases (p < 0.05). Microvessel density was also higher in CRC than in liver metastases (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with previous studies, we found a higher expression of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and microvessel density in CRC than in liver metastases, which could be ascribed to a difference in vessel distribution and blood supply in each organ. Given its profuse blood supply and distinct cell populations, the liver might provide a rich milieu for tumor cell growth with less expression of angiogenesis-inducing agents.
Immunophenotype of Thymic Epithelial Tumors According to the New World Health Organization Classification.
Sung Hye Park, Han Seong Kim, Han Kyeom Kim, Bong Kyung Shin, Seung Mo Hong, Jae Y Ro
Korean J Pathol. 2001;35(4):278-285.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
BACKGROUND
To identify the expression patterns and usefulness of various antibodies in making diagnoses and predicting prognoses, an immunohistochemical study was performed on thymic epithelial tumors (TETs).
METHODS
Forty-two cases of TETs were reclassified according to the new World Health Organization (WHO) classifications. CD3, CD5, CD79a, CD99, pan-, high- and low-molecular weight cytokeratins, EMA, vimentin, MIB-1 (Ki67) and p53 immunostaining were carried out.
RESULTS
There were two, twelve, eight, two, thirteen and one case for type A, AB, B1, B2, B3 and C, respectively. Combined B1/B2 and B2/B3 were 2 cases each. Fourteen cases (33.3%) had myasthenia gravis. CD99 was immunoreactive mainly in cortically derived lymphocytes, while CD3 and CD5 were immunoreactive in medullary-derived lymphocytes. CD5 immunoreactivity was negative in all thymic epithelial cells, except for one case of type B3. MIB-1 indices were highly expressed in cortical lymphocytes and some thymic epithelial cells, but did not show any correlation with grades. p53 in thymic epithelial cells was expressed in 6 (46%) out of 13 cases of type B3 and one case of type C, and it was negative in all other subtypes.
CONCLUSIONS
Only p53 was helpful for predicting high grades (B3 and C) (P<0.05). By MIB-1 indices, we could tell how many cortical immature lymphocytes were occupied in TETs, however, grading could not be achieved.
Immunohistochemical Study of Calponin, Smooth Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain, Cytokeratin 34E12, and p53 in Papillary Neoplasm of the Breast.
Jaejung Jang, In Ae Park
Korean J Pathol. 2001;35(5):408-415.
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AbstractAbstract PDF
BACKGROUND
The most important feature distinguishing intraductal papilloma (IDP) from papillary carcinoma is the presence of uniform myoepithelial cells (MECs) within the lesion.
METHODS
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for calponin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC), cytokeratin 34E12, and p53 were performed on 37 IDP, 4 intraductal papillary carcinomas (IDPCA), 5 microinvasive papillary carcinomas, and 5 invasive papillary carcinomas (IPCA), respectively.
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 43 (43.3+/-11.6) years. Cytokeratin 34E12 was expressed in epithelial cells (84%) as well as in MECs (23%) of IDP. The expression of SMMHC was significantly reduced in the intraductal and invasive papillary carcinoma (p=0.001). The expression of calponin was also significantly reduced (P<0.001) as IDP 95%, IDPCA 76%, microinvasive papillary carcinoma 39%, and IPCA 8%, respectively. p53 over-expression was noted in 3 (one IDP and two IPCA) of 51 cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Because MECs were significantly reduced with malignant progression, calponin and SMMHC were very useful markers for differentiating between benign and malignancy in the papillary neoplasm. Calponin was more sensitive than SMMHC and was an excellent ancillary test for assessing MECs and for detecting microinvasion.

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