Frequency of intratubular germ cell neoplasia with invasive testicular germ cell tumors. Histologic and immunocytochemical features
Coffin, C.M.; Ewing, S.; Dehner, L.P.
Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 109(6): 555-559
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9985 PMID: 2581525 Document Number: 247565
Intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN) has been regarded as the preinvasive stage of testicular germ cell tumors. Its frequency was evaluated in 53 testicular germ cell tumors. Whether immunohistochemical stains for .alpha.-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, carcinoembryonic antigen and ferritin demonstrated an advantage in its detection in comparison with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stains was investigated. Residual seminiferous tubules were found at the periphery of the invasive neoplastic foci in 47 cases. Intratubular germ cell neoplasia was detected in several or multiple seminiferous tubules in 46 cases (98%). Exquisite localization of PAS-positive intracellular granules was present in all but one case of ITGCN. Focal immunocytochemical positivity for human chorionic gonadotropin, carcinoembryonic antigen, and ferritin was noted in 2.3% of cases. It is concluded that ITGCN is present in most invasive germ cell tumors and the PAS stain is very reliable in its demonstration. Antigenic expression of the proteins that were examined is extremely limited in these primordial germ cells.