Adenolymphoma: an immunohistochemical study with monoclonal antibodies against lymphocyte antigens

Abstract

Twenty‐two adenolymphomas (Warthin's tumours) were investigated with respect to their lymphoid stroma; 4 were analyzed by monoclonal antibodies against B‐cells and T‐cells. A slight predominance of B‐cells was found. In the T‐cell fraction, the T‐helper cells outnumbered the T‐suppressor cells by a factor of 4. These and other cell types were found in the stroma and in the epithelium. Mast cells were associated with those adenolymphomas having a high proportion of epithelium.

Scanning electron microscopic study of Warthin's tumor

“…Another eontroversial issue eoncerning this tumor is whether the lymphoid component is of lymph node origin or an infiltration of lymphoeytes in response to immunological stimuli. Some authors could not demonstrate characteristic lymph node strueture (22,23), while others (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30), by analysing and eomparing the eellular components of the lymphoid tissue with that of a normal or reaetive lymph node, reached a different eonelusion.…”

“…Within sotne tumots, these changes might be so tnarked that the secondaty accumulatioti of lytnphoid cells ptedominate and resemble a reactive lymphoid infiltration. Such a tnodification might contribute greatly to the conflicting data in tecetit studies (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) oti the eellular population of the lytnphoid stroma of this tutnor.…”