Human osteogenic sarcoma. Study of the ultrastructure, with special notes on the localization of alkaline and acid phosphatase.

The morphology of 26 cases of osteogenic sarcoma was studied using electron microscopic techniques, and the localization of acid and alkaline phosphatase activity at the ultrastructural level elucidated. Four different cells were present in the tumours: osteoblast-like, fibroblast-like, chondroblast-like, and multinucleated giant cells. The osteoblast-like cell was present in most of the tumours studied. Acid phosphatase activity was present in lysosome-like structures of almost all the cell-types studied. Alkaline phosphatase activity was noted in or on the plasma membranes and associated vesicles of osteoblast-like, fibroblast-like, and multinucleated giant cells. The abundant reaction product deposition of alkaline phosphatase as compared with the lower acid phosphatase activity is in agreement with the nature of this bone-forming tumour. The results of the histochemical studies have added to the understanding of the pathobiology of the different cells composing osteogenic sarcomas.