[Crystals and psammoma bodies in adenocarcinoma of the lung]

Two cases of carcinoma of the lung containing crystals and psammoma bodies are presented. Case 1 was an autopsy case of a 48-year-old man. Adenocarcinoma cancer cells, crystals and psammoma bodies were found in the bronchial brush materials and were also detected in the imprint materials from the carcinoma of the left lung lower lobe and in tissues of the carcinoma. Case 2 was a biopsy case of an 80-year-old woman. Adenocarcinoma with many psammoma bodies was found in the biopsy specimen from the left main bronchus. The crystals and psammoma bodies of the two patients were examined using alcian blue stain, muciarmine stain, the PAS reaction and von Kossa's technique. As a result, it was suggested that mucopolysaccharides may play a role in the formation of crystals and psammoma bodies.