Ultrastructural Cytochemical Demonstration of Elastin in the Matrix of Salivary Gland Tumors

Abstract

Following light microscopic survey of the incidence of elastic tissue in 80 salivary gland tumors, tissue samples from 14 pleomorphic adenomas, three myoepitheliomas, and eight adenoid cystic carcinomas were processed for cytochemical demonstration of elastin with the tannic add stain for ultrathin sections. For comparative study, some other tumor types devoid of elastic tissue at the light microscopic level and non‐neoplastic submandibular glands were also investigated. Elastic deposits of varying amounts were clearly revealed on the basal‐lamina‐like material and/or masses of microfibrils in the matrix close to the neoplastic myoepithelium and, to a lesser degree, immediately beneath the non‐neoplastic myoepithelium. None of the other tumor types without myoepithelial differentiation contained elastic deposits closely associated with the neoplastic cells. Intimate topographical relationship of such an immature elastic fiber or developing elastic tissue to the neoplastic myoepithelial cells strongly indicated the primary origin of elastic components from these cells. It is postulated that the potential of salivary tumor cells to produce elastin is regarded as an indicator of their myoepithelial nature or differentiation.

Stromal elastosis in papillary thyroid carcinomas

“…This suggests that the presence of stromal elastosis is a specific finding for PTCs. The relationship between stromal elastosis and histological types of tumors has been reported in the salivary gland where it is frequently found in pleomorphic adenomas (97%-100%) and adenoid cystic carcinomas (82% -86%), but is not found in other types of salivary gland tumor [9][10][11][12][13]. Also, in the breast, stromal elastosis is seen in several histological subtypes of invasive ductal carcinomas (eg, tubular or tubular mixed type) [15].…”

“…Tumor-related elastosis has been investigated in several human neoplasms [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. However, little is known about this peculiar type of stromal response in thyroid pathology.…”

Adenoid cystic (cylindromatous) carcinoma of the trachea: an ultrastructural study

“…Tumours of the salivary glands may arise in the epithelial cells of the acini and ducts ( Nikai et al 1983).…”

“…(1971) adenoid cystic carcinoma is a malignant variety of pleomorphic adenoma. The similar composition of the matrix in both tumours is also indicative of their close relationship(Azzopardi & Smith 1959, Azzopardi & Zayid 1972, David & Bucher 1980, Nikai et al 1983.…”

The ultrastructural aspects of neoplastic myoepithelial cell in pleomorphic adenomas of salivary glands

“…The stroma of these tumors may have the following aspects: myxoid, chondroid, chondromyxoid, hyaline, fibrous, sclero-hyaline or even osseous. These aspects are usually associated with the predominance of one of them in variable proportion [5][6][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”