Summary
Seven of eleven bronchial carcinoids investigated showed cells with small granules resembling P cells which have already been described in human fetal and adult lung; two of these P cell tumours showed distinctive paraganglioid features. One tumour showed peculiar ultrastructural findings resembling closely those previously reported by Black (1969) in a so called “pulmonary oncocytoma”. Three remaining cases showed large secretory granules resembling those of type 3 cells already described by Hage (1973 b) in bronchial carcinoids; one of these tumours produced large amounts of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT). It is concluded that, on cytological grounds, at least two types of tumours can be distinguished among bronchial carcinoids, i.e. P cell and type 3 cell tumours. Moreover, two varieties of P cell carcinoids have been recognized, showing either the less frequent and more distinctive paraganglioid structure or the more common trabecular structure.
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Supported in part by grants N. 76.01558.04 and 77.01252.04 from the Italian Research Council (C.N.R.)
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Capella, C., Gabrielli, M., Polak, J.M. et al. Ultrastructural and histological study of 11 bronchial carcinoids. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 381, 313–329 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432474
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432474