ABSTRACT
A malignant basal cell tumor was found in the skin of the abdomen of a female Djungarian hamster of unknown age and weighing 40 g. Histologically, the tumor mass was composed of cells resembling the basal cells of the epidermis, and these cells exhibited solid type proliferation. In the tumor tissue and necrotic foci, horn cysts were observed. Immunohistochemically, cytokeratin was present in the tumor cells and horncysts. By electron microscopic examination, the tumor cells had scanty cell organelles and a few desmozomes. This paper describes a rare malignant basal cell tumor in a Djungarian hamster.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms, Basal Cell/veterinary , Phodopus , Rodent Diseases/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/veterinary , Animals , Cell Division , Cricetinae , Female , Keratins/analysis , Microscopy, Electron/veterinary , Neoplasms, Basal Cell/chemistry , Neoplasms, Basal Cell/ultrastructure , Skin Neoplasms/chemistry , Skin Neoplasms/ultrastructureABSTRACT
The incidence of Merkel cells has previously been investigated in a number of inflammatory and tumorous lesions of the skin. Special attention was given to tumors with follicular differentiation. In the present study we examined the localization of Merkel cells in another adnexal tumor, the desmoplastic trichoepithelioma (n = 15), as well as in its main differential diagnosis, the morpheiform basal-cell carcinoma (n = 30). Using immunohistochemical methods, we found Merkel cells as a stable constituent in desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas, but failed to detect them in morpheiform basal-cell carcinomas. These findings might therefore be an important tool in the sometimes very difficult but clinically imperative distinction between these two conditions. Furthermore, our study may be of interest in the discussion about the origin of desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas. High numbers of Merkel cells in desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas indicate a bulge-derived origin of this adnexal tumor, since high numbers of Merkel cells, especially in the bulge, were recently discovered. Although the significance of Merkel cell hyperplasia in desmoplastic trichoepithelioma is not presently understood, a regulatory role of the Merkel cell in growth and development of this adnexal tumor is suggested.
Subject(s)
Merkel Cells/pathology , Neoplasms, Basal Cell/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/pathology , Chromogranin A , Chromogranins/metabolism , Epidermis/pathology , Hair Follicle/pathology , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Keratins/metabolism , Merkel Cells/metabolism , Merkel Cells/ultrastructure , Microscopy, Electron , Neoplasms, Basal Cell/metabolism , Neoplasms, Basal Cell/ultrastructure , Skin Neoplasms/metabolismSubject(s)
Eyelid Neoplasms/veterinary , Granular Cell Tumor/veterinary , Neoplasms, Basal Cell/veterinary , Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/veterinary , Rats, Inbred F344 , Animals , Eyelid Neoplasms/pathology , Eyelid Neoplasms/ultrastructure , Female , Granular Cell Tumor/pathology , Granular Cell Tumor/ultrastructure , Microscopy, Electron/veterinary , Neoplasms, Basal Cell/pathology , Neoplasms, Basal Cell/ultrastructure , Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/pathology , Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/ultrastructure , RatsABSTRACT
Trichoepithelioma is widely thought to be a benign appendage tumour which arises from hair follicles (i) Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the basement membrane of Trichoepithelioma & desmoplastic Trichoepithelioma is similar to the basement membrane of exocrine glands like sweat or sebaceous gland. The basement membrane of Trichoepithelioma and desmoplastic Trichoepithelioma do not show any difference in their structure. Thus, possibly Trichoepithelioma and desmoplastic Trichoepithelioma arises from exocrine gland and are closely related to each other.
