Gh. Yu et al., Evaluation of histochemical methods for the detection of intracytoplasmic mucin in serous effusions, CYTOPATHOLO, 10(5), 1999, pp. 298-302
We have studied 25 serous effusions containing definitive morphologic evide
nce of adenocarcinoma to evaluate the ability of two mucin stains (Mayer's
mucicarmine, D-PAS) to detect intracytoplasmic mucin in both cytologic (cyt
ospin) and corresponding histological (cell block) preparations. Mucicarmin
e stain was positive in six of 25 (24%) cytospins and 13 of 25 (52%) cell b
locks. D-PAS was positive in 19 of 25 (76%) cytospins and 20 of 25 (80%) ce
ll blocks. Eight cases were identified which showed mucicarmine positivity
in the cell block but not the corresponding cytospin; prolonging incubation
time resulted in a positive mucicarmine in cytospin preparations for seven
of these cases. We conclude that: (i) D-PAS is a more sensitive stain for
the detection of intracytoplasmic mucin in all preparations; (ii) mucicarmi
ne shows preferential staining for cell blocks; (iii) alterations in the st
aining protocol may permit mucin detection by mucicarmine staining in cytol
ogic preparations in a significant number of cases.