THE NATURE OF ATYPICAL MULTINUCLEATED STROMAL CELLS - A STUDY OF 37 CASES FROM DIFFERENT SITES

The morphology, immunophenotype and ultrastructure of atypical multinu cleated stromal cells in 3 7 specimens from different anatomical sites were compared. Overall, cellular morphology was similar between sites but nuclear features, immunophenotype and ultrastructure varied and r eflected that of adjacent normal mononuclear stromal cells. It is conc luded that the atypical multinucleated stromal cells represent a react ive change in the indigenous stromal cells. In all the cases mast cell s were seen as a prominent component of the inflammatory infiltrate an d many of them were intimately related to the atypical stromal cells. It is suggested that reactive stromal cell changes may relate to an in teraction with mast cells.