[Submicroscopic characteristics of argyrophilic-cell adenocarcinoma of the endometrium]

The majority of tumour cells in the endometrial carcinoma studied electron-microscopically were found to contain endocrine granules. These were very polymorphic by their structure and size (from 80 to 350 nm). Small granules predominated which could not be detected light-microscopically. Apart from the endocrine cells, tumour cells corresponding to the endometrial epithelium at the stage of secretion and other cells of endocrine and secretory type were observed. Therefore the possibility is not excluded that the tumours of this type develop due to the divergent differentiation of the endometrial undifferentiated elements under the condition of tumour growth.