Centriolar Abnormalities in Human Neoplasms

Abstract

The fine structure of centriolar precursors was studied in three human neoplasms: a chief cell adenoma of the parathyroid, an undifferentiated cell adenoma of the pituitary and a malignant lymphoma of the thyroid arising in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Morphological evidence has been presented in support of the view that mitochondria may serve as progenitors of centrioles. The sequence of events of mitochondrial centriole formation, from the early accumulation of electron dense substance at one pole of the mitochondrion to the fully developed organelle, is documented. The findings indicate that centriolar abnormalities, such as multiplicity, accumulation of precursors, etc., may occur in benign and malignant, epithelial and mesenchymal tumors showing no apparent correlations with the biological behaviour of the neoplasms.