Expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 and other markers in sclerosing hemangioma of the lung Journal Article


Authors: Illei, P. B.; Rosai, J.; Klimstra, D. S.
Article Title: Expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 and other markers in sclerosing hemangioma of the lung
Abstract: Context. Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung is well characterized histologically, but the line of differentiation expressed by the tumor cells has been unclear. Despite the implication by its name of a vascular neoplasm, sclerosing hemangioma is considered by most authorities to be an epithelial tumor, possibly related to the pulmonary epithelium. Objectives. To determine the line of differentiation of the tumor cells with immunohistochemistry and to review the related literature. Design. Nine cases of histologically typical pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma were studied with pan-epithelial (epithelial membrane antigen [EMA] and CAM 5.2), endothelial (CD31), neuroendocrine (chromogranin A), and pulmonary epithelial markers (thyroid transcription factor-1 and PE10). Staining intensity was separately evaluated in the pale cells of the solid areas and the cells lining the papillary structures. Results. Both cell types were positive for thyroid transcription factor-1 and EMA in all cases (100%). Thyroid transcription factor-1 showed diffuse strong staining, and EMA staining varied from focal weak to diffuse strong. The pale cells showed focal staining for keratin (CAM 5.2) in 2 (28%) of 7 cases, and for PE10 in 5 (62%) of 8 cases. The papillary lining cells were at least focally positive with CAM 5.2 and PE10 in all cases (100%). Reactions for chromogranin and CD31 were negative in both cell types in every case. The number of PE10- or CAM 5.2-positive papillary lining cells was less than the number of EMA-positive papillary lining cells. Conclusion. The uniform positivity for EMA is consistent with the notion that the tumor cells of sclerosing hemangioma are epithelial, and the strong thyroid transcription factor-1 positivity suggests differentiation toward pulmonary epithelium. The papillary lining cells expressing EMA as well as PE10 or CAM 5.2 likely represent entrapped metaplastic alveolar epithelium, whereas the papillary lining cells expressing only EMA more likely constitute true neoplastic cells similar to those in the solid areas.
Keywords: immunohistochemistry; adult; clinical article; controlled study; human tissue; protein expression; aged; middle aged; histopathology; biological markers; lung neoplasms; tumor markers, biological; tumor marker; cell type; transcription factors; nuclear proteins; lung tumor; tumor cell; keratins; hemangioma; cd31 antigen; cell adhesion molecule; epithelial membrane antigen; thyroid transcription factor 1; protein precursors; keratin; chromogranin a; antigens, cd31; histiocytoma; lung alveolus epithelium; ca-15-3 antigen; chromogranins; humans; human; male; female; article; proteolipids
Journal Title: Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Volume: 125
Issue: 10
ISSN: 0003-9985
Publisher: College of American Pathologists  
Date Published: 2001-10-01
Start Page: 1335
End Page: 1339
Language: English
PUBMED: 11570910
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 21 May 2015 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Peter Illei
    26 Illei
  2. David S Klimstra
    978 Klimstra