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Ultrastructural and histological study of 11 bronchial carcinoids

Evidence for different types

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Summary

Seven of eleven bronchial carcinoids investigated showed cells with small granules resembling P cells which have already been described in human fetal and adult lung; two of these P cell tumours showed distinctive paraganglioid features. One tumour showed peculiar ultrastructural findings resembling closely those previously reported by Black (1969) in a so called “pulmonary oncocytoma”. Three remaining cases showed large secretory granules resembling those of type 3 cells already described by Hage (1973 b) in bronchial carcinoids; one of these tumours produced large amounts of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT). It is concluded that, on cytological grounds, at least two types of tumours can be distinguished among bronchial carcinoids, i.e. P cell and type 3 cell tumours. Moreover, two varieties of P cell carcinoids have been recognized, showing either the less frequent and more distinctive paraganglioid structure or the more common trabecular structure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Histopathology, Histochemistry and Ultrastructure Centre, University of Pavia at Varese, Italy

    C. Capella, M. Gabrielli, J. M. Polak, R. Buffa, E. Solcia & C. Bordi

  2. Institute of Pathologic Anatomy, University of Parma, Italy

    C. Capella, M. Gabrielli, J. M. Polak, R. Buffa, E. Solcia & C. Bordi

  3. Department of Histochemistry, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, England

    C. Capella, M. Gabrielli, J. M. Polak, R. Buffa, E. Solcia & C. Bordi

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  1. C. Capella
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  2. M. Gabrielli
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  3. J. M. Polak
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  4. R. Buffa
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  5. E. Solcia
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  6. C. Bordi
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Supported in part by grants N. 76.01558.04 and 77.01252.04 from the Italian Research Council (C.N.R.)

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Capella, C., Gabrielli, M., Polak, J.M. et al. Ultrastructural and histological study of 11 bronchial carcinoids. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 381, 313–329 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432474

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