POLYPEPTIDE HORMONES IN ARGENTAFFIN AND ARGYROPHIL GASTRODUODENAL ENDOCRINE TUMORS

Abstract

The morphology and histochemistry of gastroduodenal endocrine tumors from 16 patients were studied. All patients underwent operation, in most cases with a preoperative diagnosis of nonendocrine tumor, ulcer, or polyp(s). The argentaffin reaction was positive in 3 tumors, and the Hellerstrom-Hellman argyrophil reaction was positive in 4 tumors. All tumors reacted positively to the Grimelius argyrophil stain, and 13 were positive with the Sevier-Munger argyrophil stain. Gastrin immunoreactivity was found in 8 tumors, and substance-P immunoreactivity in 7 tumors. No enteroglucagon, adrenal cortex hormone, or pancreatic polypeptide was observed in any of the tumors. Three patients with Sevier-Mungerpositive gastric tumors had concurrent pernicious anemia, and 2 patients with gastrinimmunoreactive tumors had acute or chronic gastroduodenal ulceration. The gastroduodenal endocrine tumor as a rule gives no endocrine symptoms and the tumor type is an unexpected finding at operation. The tumors may contain gastrin, substance P, somatostatin, and serotonin and tend to be multihormonal.