Lectin binding activity in appendiceal mucocele.

In order to further clarify the histologic criteria and prognostic measurement of appendiceal adenoma and well differentiated adenocarcinoma, lectin binding activity in 31 cases of appendiceal mucocele (6 hyperplasias, 16 adenomas and 9 adenocarcinomas) was studied using an immunoperoxidase staining method. An additional 45 cases of colonic lesions (15 adenomas and 30 adenocarcinomas) were also examined as the corresponding controls. Arachis hypogaea agglutinin (PNA) bound selectively to the neoplastic cells of adenocarcinomas in the appendix and colon, but in contrast, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) binding activity was observed in both normal mucosa and adenomas, and in appendiceal hyperplasia. The fact that one case each of appendiceal adenoma and colonic villous adenoma showed a diffuse positive reactivity with PNA, which was comparable with similar binding in the adenocarcinoma cases, may suggest development of a malignant behavior prior to the histologic expression of malignant transformation in the appendiceal mucocele.