The Kartagener syndrome--an electron microscopic studies of biopsied mucosa.

We studied 43 tissue samples taken from patients (16 male and 27 women) with clinical diagnosis of Kartagener's syndrome. The specimens were fixed and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. After preliminary light microscopic examination 23 cases were qualified for ultrastructural studies. We found abnormal number of cilia on the bronchial mucosa cells. The ciliary structure was abnormal. In several cases we observed lack of inner and/or outer dynein arms, abnormal location of central microtubules, and abnormal number of microtubular doublets. Other findings were as follows: replacement of ciliated cells by goblet ones, mucosal edema and inflammatory infiltrate.

Neuroendocrine component of different types of the pulmonary carcinoma.

One hundred and seventy lung tumors were examined: 155 squamous cell carcinoma, 12 adenocarcinomas and 3 mixed adenosquamous carcinoma. In electron microscopic examination the neuroendocrine cells were found: in 31 cases of squamous carcinoma, in 9 cases of adenocarcinoma, and 1 case of mixed adenosquamous carcinoma.

Application of electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry in lung cancer diagnosis.

Using bronchofiberoscopy the biopsies of '50 small cell carcinomas of the lung (SCLC) were diagnosed. The material was studied by immunocytochemical methods for cytokeratins and in routine transmission electron microscopy. The presence of bundles of cytokeratins was specific for squamous epithelium, in all histological subtypes of small cell carcinomas. The number and distribution of cytokeratins were described. In whole material we found the neuroendocrine cells in which polymorphic neuroendocrine granules were present.