An endobronchial tumor, resected from a 77‐year‐old man, had an endometrioid histologic pattern consistent with fetal adenocarcinoma. A distinctive feature of the neoplasm was prominent neuroendocrine differentiation, including single, discrete neuroendocrine cells; aggregates of neuroendocrine cells resembling miniature carcinoid tumors; and a single focus of undifferentiated small cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining of neuroendocrine cells revealed the presence of neuronspecific enolase, chromogranin, somatostatin, insulin, and serotonin. The heterogeneous cell populations caused problems in differential diagnosis and histologic classification. This case demonstrates that fetal adenocarcinoma may occur as a central endobronchial mass and express a variable degree of neuroendocrine differentiation. Cancer 1994; 73:1383–9.
The histopathology, ultrastructure, and clinicopathologic correlations in six patients with cardiac failure and iron encrustation of lung elastic tissue were examined at autopsy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis were applied to two cases. Of the group, five patients had cardiac failure due to systemic hypertension (4 patients), valvular disease (4 patients), or coronary atherosclerosis (4 patients). Biventricular failure in one patient was associated with sleep apnea. Both iron and calcium, identified by histochemical stains, impregnated degenerated alveolar and vascular elastic fibers and were associated with a foreign body reaction and focal interstitial fibrosis. Energy dispersive x-ray analysis and TEM demonstrated iron and calcium on the microfibrillar portion of elastin. Morphometry indicated vascular changes of pulmonary venous hypertension. The authors concluded that mineral deposition probably represents nonspecific precipitation of metallic ions on altered elastic fibers in patients with cardiac failure. "Mineralizing elastosis" potentially contributes to lung restriction and, occasionally, can be a source of diagnostic confusion.
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