Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J E Schatz.
The capacity of the peritoneal serosa to undergo metaplasia to müllerian-type epithelium is well recognized. We report a case of squamous metaplasia of the peritoneum that was studied by light microscopy. Immunohistochemical techniques, and electron microscopy. The pathogenesis of peritoneal squamous metaplasia is obscure, but may be a response to chronic irritation.
This case report details an osteogenic sarcoma arising in a vertebra in which cytokeratin intermediate filaments were detected immunohistochemically with three different antibodies. This feature was present not only in the primary neoplasm but also in two local recurrences and a metastasis to the iliac bone. What is unique about this primary bone tumor, however, is the structural evidence for epithelial differentiation. Ultrastructurally, well-formed desmosomes and tonofilaments were present in all four surgically resected specimens. This tumor expands the list of soft tissue and bone tumors in which anomalous expression of intermediate filaments can occur but, more important, illustrates that changes in genetic expression of neoplasia of mesenchymal origin can result in paradoxic epithelial differentiation.