IDENTIFICATION OF ONCOCYTIC LESIONS OF SALIVARY-GLANDS BY ANTIMITOCHONDRIAL IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY

Aims: To evaluate the immunohistochemistry using an anti-mitochondria antibody in the investigation of various oncocytic lesions of the sali vary glands, Methods and results: Ten cases of adenolymphoma (Warthin' s tumour) and one case each of benign oncocytoma and oncocytic carcino ma of the salivary glands were examined, Normal salivary glands were a lso tested. They were investigated immunohistochemically using mouse m onoclonal antibody against human mitochondria. In normal salivary glan ds, epithelial cells of the striated ducts showed a thick linear immun oreactivity, which corresponded well to the intracytoplasmic distribut ion pattern of mitochondria. In addition, a small number of swollen ep ithelial cells showing an intense, finely granular immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm were scattered in the ductal system and acini ('oncocyt ic metaplasia'). Almost all neoplastic cells involved in adenolymphoma , benign oncocytoma, and oncocytic carcinoma showed an intense, finely granular immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm. Conclusions: Immunohistoc hemistry using the anti-mitochondria antibody proved to be a highly se nsitive and specific method for light microscopic identification of mi tochondria and superior to routine H & E or PTAH stain especially in t he detection of isolated oncocytic cells.