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High amylase activity in pleural fluid and primary bronchogenic adenocarcinoma
O Devuyst1, M Lambert, J M Scheiff
1Department of General Internal Medicine, St Luc University Hospital, Louvain Medical School, Brussels, Belgium.
The European Respiratory Journal
|November 1, 1990
Abstract:
We report a case of primary bronchogenic adenocarcinoma, complicated by pleural effusion, in which very high pleural amylase activity was found, whilst serum amylase was normal. Isoamylase determination showed a salivary-type amylase. Concerning the origin of this enzyme, ultrastructural study of the malignant cells obtained from the pleural fluid suggested a local amylase synthesis. The pathophysiological significance of electron-dense granules found in these cells is also discussed.