Abstract
To determine the prevalence of goblet cell metaplasia in endocervical
and endometrial adenocarcinomas by histochemial staining and to
investigate the most sensitive histochemical staining method to detect
this metaplasia, a total of 90 tissue blocks representing 30
non-neoplastic cervix, 30 non-neoplastic endometrium, 30 endocervical
and endometrial adenocarcinoma cases were obtained for histochemical
staining with Toluidine Blue (TB), Methylene Blue (MB), Mucicarmine
(MUC), Periodic Acid Schiff before and after Diastase digestion (PAS,
PAS-D), Alcian Blue pH 2.5 (AB), and Periodic Acid Schiff after Alcian
Blue pH 2.5 (PAB). The cases were blinded and evaluated by a
pathologist [NHO] for the presence of goblet cell metaplasia, the
amount of goblet cells present and the histochemical differentiation of
the goblet cells compared with its surrounding glandular epithelium.
Goblet cell metaplasia was present in 2 out of 30 cases in
non-neoplastic cervix, 0 out of 30 cases in non-neoplastic endometrium,
7 out of 15 cases in endocervical adenocarcinoma and in 2 out of 15
cases in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Relatively few goblet cells were
seen in endometrial adenocarcinoma, few to moderate amounts were seen
in endocervical adenocarcinoma and relatively more goblet cells were
seen in non-neoplastic cervix. The differentiation of the goblet cells
with its surrounding glandular epithelium was moderate to strong in
non-neoplastic cervix and endocervical adenocarcinoma, while the
differentiation in endometrial adenocarcinoma was weak to moderate. The
various staining methods showed differences in presence, amount and
differentiation of the goblet cells. Goblet cell metaplasia of the
reproductive organs is not as rare as previously reported. There was no
statistical difference in presence, amount and differentiation of
goblet cells according to the various cases. The must optimum staining
methods for staining goblet cells in non-neoplastic cervix,
endocervical adenocarcinoma and endometrial adenocarcinoma were PAS,
PAS-D and AB.