[Argyrophil cell of the endometrial adenocarcinoma -light and electron microscopic observations (author's transl)]

Fifty one endometrial adenocarcinomas were used in this study. For light microscopic observations paraffin section from 43 cases were processed with H and E, PAS, and Grimelius argyophil reaction. Besides, 21 of these endometrial adenocarcinomas (25.6%) showed positive Grimelius' argyrophil reaction. With regard to the degree of histological differentiation, these 11 cases were classified as G1 or G2 and all G3 cases (2 cases) revealed negative for Grimelius argyophil reaction. Under electron microscope, in 3 cases out of 21, many small granules reminiscent of neurosecretory type granules mostly round in shape with high electron dense core so often surrounded by a limiting membrane were detected in some of the endometrial carcinoma cells having argyophil granules under light microscope. Since the distribution of these granules was assumed to be random however, the clusters of granules so often located in the groundplasm of subapical portion and subnuclear area near the epithelial basement membrane of the glandular cells. In high magnification, they consisted of an aggregation of fine granular substances with high electron density. Based on the morphological characteristics we made a comparative study between argyophil cell carcinoma of the endometrium and apudomas of the uterine cervix.