INTRACYTOPLASMIC EOSINOPHILIC HYALINE GLOBULES IN CARTILAGINOUS NEOPLASMS - A SURGICAL, PATHOLOGICAL, ULTRASTRUCTURAL, AND ELECTRON-PROBE X-RAY MICROANALYTIC STUDY

Hyaline globules (HGs), spherical intracytoplasmic eosinophilic drop l ets, have been associated with a variety of conditions, including hepa tocellular carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma, but t hey have not been described in cartilaginous tumors. In specimens of 6 0 cartilaginous neoplasms we found that 22 of 53 chondrosarcomas (67%) , eight of 16 enchondromas (50%), and three of seven soft tissue chond romas (43%) exhibited HGs. HGs were seen more commonly in low grade ch ondrosarcoma (70%) and were relatively rare in hig h grade chondrosarc oma (25%). No HGs were identified in three osteochondromas, one synovi al chondromatosis, or 15 normal cartilaginous tissues taken from vario us sites. Cartilage associated HGs ranged in size from 2 to 20 mu m, w ere diastase resistant and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain positive, demonstrated autofluorescence, and variably stained with Mallory's pho sphotungstic acid-hematoxylin stain (PTAH). A panel of immunostains di d not show any specific staining reactions with HGs. Ultrastructurally the HGs were spherical, non-membrane-bound bodies having complex arch itectural features associated with profiles of rough endoplasmic retic ulum. Electron probe x-ray microanalytic (EPXMA) study showed signific ant peaks of sulphur and calcium. We conclude that HGs represent secre tory products of probable glycoprotein nature, may accumulate in a var iety of cartilaginous neoplasms, and may be seen more frequently in lo w grade chondrosarcomas. Copyright (C) 1994 by W.B. Saunders Company