Pathology of Pulmonary Oncocytoma

 Dr Sampurna Roy MD

Histologically, the tumour is composed of a diffuse proliferation of large polygonal cells with an abundant, granular cytoplasm, and round to irregular nuclei with prominent nucleoli.

Smaller eosinophilic cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and larger vacuolated cells are also observed in some cases.

Reports suggest that no mucin production was detected and there were neither argyrophilic nor argentaffin cells, and no serotonin-positive cells.

Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells were positive for cytokeratins, vimentin and antimitochondrial antigen, whereas alpha-actin, chromogranin, synaptophysin, S-100 protein, and HMB-45 were negative.

According to one study on electron microscopy, abundant microvilli , have been described in pulmonary oncocytomas.

Occasional, desmosomes and myelin figures as well as numerous mitochondria were also seen.

No neurosecretory granules were present.

Based on the findings the authors suggested that the tumor might have an epithelial origin from the bronchial serous gland with subsequent cellular degeneration.

Pulmonary oncocytoma: a rare case.

Cytopathology of oncocytic carcinoid tumor of the lung mimicking granular cell tumor. A case report.

Oxyphilic proliferations of the respiratory tract and paranasal sinuses.

Multicentric oncocytoma of the lung diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration.

Pulmonary oncocytoma: report of a case in conjunction with an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

Pulmonary oncocytoma.

Pulmonary oncocytoma. Report of a case with cytologic, histologic and electron microscopic study.

Oncocytoma of the lung: presentation of 1 case (author's transl)