[Immunocytochemical and morphologic features of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the nasopharynx]

Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the nasopharynx is not rare. It comprises 5% of all nasopharyngeal carcinomas. In this paper, specimens of 41 cases of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the nasopharynx were studied. The microscopic findings have the tendency to form glandular or duct-like structures, or a specific "cerebriform" appearance, AB-PAS stain was positive. In addition to the common features of adenocarcinoma (cancer cells vary in size, with large, round central nuclei, enlarged conspicuous nucleoli), a specific feature that the nuclei of cancer cells were 1-2 times larger than those of normal cells was seen in smear. Electron microscopic observation revealed that the cytoplasm of the cancer cells contained numerous mitochondria, RER, developed Golgi apparatus and some secretory granules. Immunocytochemical studies proved that it was moderately positive for immunostain of low molecular weight keratin protein (K10,11), but was negative for keratin (K) it is different from poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and vesicular nuclear cell carcinoma, of which were strongly positive or partially positive for keratin. The main points of differential diagnosis for these carcinomas are elucidated.