A clinicopathologic study of endometrial carcinomas with argyrophil cells

Exfoliative Cytology of Neuroendocrine Small Cell Carcinoma of the Endometrium

“…This hypothesis is consistent with studies that have documented cells of enterochromaffin or neuroendocrine type within normal endometrial glands and more commonly within well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas. 5,27,28,[31][32][33] An alternative theory is neuroendocrine metaplasia of the müllerian epithelium. 22 …”

“…The differential diagnosis of a small cell carcinoma of the endometrium includes a variety of other primary and secondary tumors of the uterine corpus with a focal or diffuse malignant small cell component. 4,5,19,27,[31][32][33] Tumor spread from a small cell carcinoma of the cervix is much more common than in their endometrial counterparts. 6 In our cases, examination of the hysterectomy specimens revealed no involvement of the cervix.…”

“…18 Previous reports have described clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and flow cytometry findings on neuroendocrine endometrial small cell carcinomas. 3,4,8,9,18,21,23,24,29,33,34 Small cell carcinoma has cellular features that are characteristic of a specific cytologic diagnosis. However, no report of exfoliative cytology of an endometrial small cell carcinoma appears in the literature.…”

“…Neuroendocrine differentiation of small and intermediate cell type small cell carcinoma of the endometrium has been discussed in previous papers, [3][4][5]18 and tumors with hormonal immunoreactivity for corticotropin, calcitonin, serotonin, somatostatin and chromogranin have been reported. 20,24,[33][34][35] The antigen NSE is found in neurons, normal cells in the neuroendocrine system and tumors with neuronal or neuroendocrine differentiation. It has also been demonstrated in nonneuronal normal and neoplastic tissues and is thus not a specific marker for neuroendocrine differentiation.…”

Contributions of Immunohistochemistry to Clinical Endocrinology and Endocrine Pathology

“…In the breast and female genital tract, for example, argyrophilic cells have been identified and tumors in these sites, which may have the morphological features of carcinoids or small cell undifferentiated carcinomas, have been reported (7,39). The thymus also contains an extensive system of neuroendocrine type cells, particularly in avian species (18).…”