DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN PRIMARY PLEURAL AND PRIMARY PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMAS BY MORPHOMETRY AND ANALYSIS OF THE VACUOLIZATION PATTERN OF THE EXFOLIATED MESOTHELIAL CELLS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (2) , 103-108
Abstract
Cells exfoliated from [human] primary pleural mesotheliomas differ significantly from those from primary peritoneal tumors. In a quantitative study it was shown that the pleural cells have large nuclei, a more pronounced anisokaryosis and a higher nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio and therefore appear more malignant than the peritoneal cells, which have abundant cytoplasm and small nuclei. The differences in quantitative parameters were due to a more extensive vacuolization and consequent cytoplasmic distension combined with nuclear compression in the case of peritoneal mesotheliomas. The morphometric parameters and the vacuolization patterns of cell populations in cases with both pleural and peritoneal involvement correlated with the data of the primary tumor regardless of the fluid in which the cells were found. This finding indicates the transcoelomic metastatic properties of malignant mesothelioma.

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