A peculiar Factor VIII-related antigen staining of an oxyphilic cell nodule within an intrathyroidal parathyroid adenoma.

ABSTRACT

A case of intrathyroidal parathyroid adenoma, which was found in the lower portion of the right thyroid lobe, is presented. The nodule in this lesion was composed of oxyphilic cells. In order to verify a possible vascular invasion, immunohistochemical study with Factor VIII-related antigen/von Willebrand factor, which is known to be synthesized by the endothelial cells and stored in Weibel-Palade bodies, and ulex europaeus lectin 1 were applied. It was interesting to find positivity for Factor VIII-related antigen and ulex europaeus lectin I strictly confined in the nodule of oxyphil cells, which are known to have large numbers of mitochondria. This led to investigating similar immunoreactions in different lesions of oxyphilic cells with several other markers. The possible cross-reaction between Weibel-Palade bodies and mitochondria deserves further detailed research.