Demonstration of neuroendocrine cells in ovarian mucinous tumors.

The frequency of argyrophil cells in mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, borderline tumors (MBT) and cystadenomas was 29.8% (14 of 47), 46.7% (7 of 15) and 11.1% (2 of 18), respectively. These were statistically higher than the frequencies in 17 clear cell carcinomas, 43 serous cystadenocarcinomas, and 24 metastatic carcinomas. Immunoreactive cells for serotonin, somatostatin, gastrin, pancreatic polypeptide, growth hormone-releasing hormone, metenkephalin, neuron-specific enolase, and chromogranin-A were detected in almost all these cases with argyrophil cells. However, immunoreactivities for glucagon, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and adrenocorticotropic hormone were negative in ovarian mucinous tumors. Immunohistochemical multiplicity of neurohormones was remarkable in 15 MBT (including 5 müllerian and 10 intestinal MBT) and it was not related to the number of argyrophil cells per unit tumor cells. Individual hormones demonstrated here seemed to be present in different cells, but certain cells were immunoreactive for both gastrin and somatostatin by double immunostaining. Based on the high frequency of endocrine cells, borderline tumors seemed to be unique in the spectrum of mucinous ovarian tumors.