Case 50 - Discussion

Uploaded: 2007-06-02, Updated: 2007-06-22

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY: Immunostains on block B14

• Synaptophysin: strong positive

• Chromogranin: strong positive

• S-100: positive

• Glucagon: negative

• Growth hormone: negative

• Insulin: negative

• Somatostatin: negative

• Gastrin: negative

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY:
Ultrastructurally, the neoplasm is composed of sheets of neoplastic cells. The cells are made of irregularly-shaped cells containing round to oval nuclei. These neoplastic cells have recurrent tight junctions. The cytoplasm of these cells contain many mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum and numerous dense core granules surrounded by a plasma membrane. These granules are round and vary in size from 0.102 to 0.239 micros. These are consistent with neurosecretory granules seen in neuroendocrine tumors.
(Interpretation performed by Dr. JW / WH)

CYTOGENETICS REPORT:
Normal male chromosome complement: 46,XY[20].
Cytogenetic analysis did not reveal any evidence of a consistent detectable numerical or structural chromosomal anomaly at this band level.

Low grade neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas