Abstract
Sixteen gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) were studied by immunohistochemical analysis and an ultrastructural procedure. The tumor locations were as follows: esophagus (2), stomach (7), small intestine (3), and large intestine (4). Four of the lesions were classified as malignant, 2 as borderline, and 10 as benign. On the basis of the immunohistochemical analysis, the tumors were classified as follows: 1 as myogenic type, 2 as Schwann cell type, 8 as Cajal cell type (including 2 gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumors, GANTs), and 5 as mixed-cell type. In each subtype the phenotype was compared to the ultrastructural findings. Myogenic and Schwann cell type revealed ultrastructurally smooth muscle differentiation and schwannian tumor. All 8 tumors of the Cajal cell type revealed interdigitating cytoplasmic processes with occasional clusters of filopodia. Two tumors were subdivided as GANT. Five tumors of mixed-cell type were composed of a mixture of cells with variable myogenic features or variable neural differentiation. We confirmed in this study that immunohistochemical analysis reflected electron microscopic findings.
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Received: January 19, 2000 / Accepted: February 21, 2000
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Yamaguchi, J., Sawada, N., Tobioka, H. et al. Electron microscopic and immunohistochemical studies of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Med Electron Microsc 32, 213–220 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00021465
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00021465