Composite gastric carcinoma. Report of a tumor of the carcinoma-carcinoid spectrum

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1988 Jan;112(1):91-3.

Abstract

A composite tumor of the gastric antrum composed of areas of adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated carcinoid is described, with histochemical and immunohistochemical documentation of endocrine and nonendocrine differentiation. The neoplasm maintained a composite architecture both within the site of origin and in lymph node metastases. The adenocarcinoma displayed a predominantly tubular architecture with focal sheets of clear cells. The poorly differentiated carcinoid was argyrophilic, chromogranin immunoreactive, and focally serotonin immunoreactive, and contained keratin intermediate filaments in a distinctive distribution suggestive of endocrine differentiation. Among the tumors of the carcinoma-carcinoid spectrum, the composite tumor is less common than either carcinomas with interspersed endocrine cells or carcinoids with interspersed nonendocrine cells.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / immunology
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Adenocarcinoma / ultrastructure
  • Carcinoid Tumor / immunology
  • Carcinoid Tumor / pathology*
  • Carcinoid Tumor / secondary
  • Carcinoid Tumor / ultrastructure
  • Chromogranins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intermediate Filaments / ultrastructure
  • Keratins / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stomach Neoplasms / immunology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / secondary
  • Stomach Neoplasms / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Chromogranins
  • Keratins