GOBLET-CELL MUCINOUS EPITHELIUM LINING THE ENDOMETRIUM AND ENDOCERVIX- EVIDENCE OF METASTASIS FROM AN APPENDICEAL PRIMARY TUMOR THROUGH THE USE OF CYTOKERATIN-7 AND CYTOKERATIN-20 IMMUNOSTAINS

Differential staining with cytokeratin (CK)-7 and CK-20, two members o f a complex family of proteins in human epithelial cells, proved criti cal in showing that the extremely well-differentiated goblet-cell (int estinal) mucinous epithelium lining the surface of the endometrium and endocervix in two patients and the fallopian tube in one was identica l to that of the coincident appendiceal neoplasms. One of these patien ts also had a large ovarian tumor that grossly and microscopically res embled a mucinous cystadenoma of borderline malignancy and would have been considered primary except for the CK stains (CK-20 positive and C K-7 negative), which suggested metastasis from the appendix, presumabl y by a transtubal route.