Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: quantitative study on enterochromaffin cells in hamartomatous intestine polyps.

INTRODUCTION Peutz-Jeghers (PJ) syndrome is a rare familial disorder with the autosomal transmission characterized by multiple intestinal polyps, mucocutaneous pigmentation and increased incidence of various malignancies. Some clinical manifestations of PJ syndrome may be associated with the serotonin secretion from the enterochromaffin cells (EC). OBJECTIVE Since no data have been reported so far regarding EC cells in PJ polyps, the aim of our study was to quantitatively investigate EC population in hamartomatous intestinal polyps in patients with the PJ syndrome. METHODS The samples of surgically removed PJ polyps from family members with the PJ syndrome were collected during 34-year follow-up period. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of twenty-one PJ polyps were stained with HE, AB-PAS, Van Gieson, Fontana-Masson, FIF and Grimelius. For immunohistochemical analysis, the following antibodies were used: chromogranin A, serotonin, Ki-67, desmin, vimentin and cytokeratin in order to eliminate differential diagnostic possibilities and to confirm diagnosis of PJ polyps. RESULTS Strong EC cell hyperplasia was observed within the tissue of the investigated polyps. Statistical analysis demonstrated significantly higher content of EC cells in PJ polyps than in the normal ileal mucosa. CONCLUSION Marked hyperplasia of EC cells within the PJ polyps may be the most important contributor to functional disorders in patients with the PJ syndrome.