Some ultrastructural features of acinic cell carcinoma

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Abstract
The ultrastructure of an acinic cell carcinoma, occurring in the left parotid gland of a 52 yr old woman and causing a total facial nerve paralysis, is described. Histologically the tumor consisted of numerous granulated cells arranged around lumen-like openings and resembling a secretory system. Areas with agranulated cells growing in a solid pattern were also encountered. The cytoplasmic granules of the tumor cells displayed a varied appearance with EM. Granules of a dense homogeneous type and granules with a more electron lucid appearance were observed. Numerous cytoplasmic granules displayed a bipartite structure with a dense central and a more electron lucid outer zone. In specimens primarily fixed in OsO4 or KMnO4 the granules displayed a leached out appearance. The membrane-bounded granules of the tumor cells also showed a strong positive staining with the periodic acid-chromic Ag technique of Rambourg et al. (1969). Other characteristic ultrastructural features of the tumor cells studied were: smooth cell surfaces, the presence of subplasmalemmal bands of electron dense material, desmosome-like attachment areas between cells and grossly altered mitochondria.