Transmission electron microscopy of human oesophageal carcinomas

Twelve human oesophageal carcinoma samples were examined by both light and electron microscopy in order to characterise the ultrastructural features of this neoplasm. Those samples from well differentiated tumours contained abundant tonofilaments, mainly in a paranuclear position, while cells from poorly differentiated tumours displayed few such filaments but had more prominent cytoplasmic organelles. Desmosomes were well developed in all samples, some of which displayed numerous clearly defined intracellular desmosomes not necessarily associated with cell membrane material. Myelinoid figures were abundant and the bizarre forms which were present in some samples may be related either to abnormal metabolism or to viral activity. Glycogen, lipid droplets and intermediate filaments, possibly related to basement membrane material were observed in several samples. No single feature diagnostic for carcinoma of the oesophagus emerged from this study, but several structural similarities between oesophageal and other carcinomas were noted.