ENTERIC DIFFERENTIATION IN ENDOMETRIAL ADENOCARCINOMAS - A MUCIN HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDY

A histochemical study revealed focal intracytoplasmic mucin within 50% of a series of adenocarcinomas arising within the endometrium. Sevent een percent of the adenocarcinomas studied contained intracytoplasmic O-acetylated sialomucins as demonstrated by the PB/KOH/PAS technique. The presence of O-acetylated sialomucin, indicating enteric or intesti nal differentiation, has not previously been demonstrated within endom etrial adenocarcinomas, although it is well described in endocervical adenocarcinomas and in mucinous tumors of the ovary. In none of the ca ses in which enteric-type mucins were identified was there morphologic al evidence of intestinal differentiation in the form of goblet cells or Paneth cells. No correlation was found between the presence of ente ric mucins and the grade of the adenocarcinoma. The results of the stu dy provide further confirmation of the ability of the epithelial linin g of the female genital tract to undergo various forms of metaplasia, along both Mullerian and non-Mullerian pathways. The demonstration of specific mucins is more sensitive than morphology in establishing ente ric differentiation.