Electronmicroscopic observations on epidermoid (squamous cell) carcinomas of the lung

Five epidermoid (squamous cell) carcinomas of the lung histopathologically diagnosed were ultrastructurally analysed; special attention was given to the poorly differentiated-immature areas of proliferation. Wide intercellular spaces between irregular cytoplasms with protrusions and microvilli, a high incidence of indentations of nuclear membranes, a large amount of nuclear bodies, shape, size and structure anomalies of mitochondria, a great number of desmosomes and of tonofilaments and tonofibril bundles and their relations with desmosomes and with the finger-like cytoplasmic expansions were noticed. A few secretory granules were also present in these poorly differentiated-immature areas of epidermoid carcinomas of the lung.