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Multinucleated stromal cells of the anal mucosa: a common finding
G M Groisman1, M Amar, S Polak-Charcon
1Department of Pathology, Hillel-Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel.
Aims:
To document the presence, morphology, immunophenotype and ultrastructure of multinucleated stromal cells within the anal mucosa and to discuss possible pathogenetic mechanisms for this occurrence.
Methods And Results:
Multiple sections of normal anal mucosa from 30 abdominoperineal resection specimens were analysed by light microscopic, electron microscopic and immunohistochemical methods. Multinucleated stromal cells were found in 22 cases (73%). They contained two to five nuclei, arranged in a linear fashion or in a rosette or grape-like pattern. They stained positive for vimentin and negative for actin, desmin and oestrogen/progesterone receptors. Ultrastructural examination confirmed their fibroblastic lineage. Mast cells were frequently observed in the immediate vicinity of mono- and multinucleated cells.
Conclusions:
Multinucleated stromal cells are a common occurrence in the normal anal mucosa. They should not be misinterpreted as neoplastic cells. Mast cells may play a role in their morphogenesis.