Pleural mesothelioma of epithelial type and pulmonary adenocarcinoma: an ultrastructural and cytochemical comparison

Twelve diffuse pleural mesotheliomas of epithelial type have been compared with 20 intrapulmonary adenocarcinomas. All mesotheliomas were negative for epithelial mucin by diastase periodic acid Schiff staining and for carcinoembryonic antigen by immunoperoxidase staining, whereas 17/20 carcinomas stained for epithelial mucin and 15/20 for carcinoembryonic antigen. Hyaluronidase-sensitive alcian blue positive material was present in 6/10 mesotheliomas and 0/20 carcinomas. Previously described electron microscopic differences were validated, including one which has so far received insufficient emphasis: microvilli making direct contact through basement membrane deficiencies with collagen fibres on the abluminal side of tumour cells were identified in 10/12 mesotheliomas and in 0/20 carcinomas.