Immunohistological study of mucous antigens in gynecologic tumors with special reference to argyrophil cells.

Mucinous tumors of the ovary and adenocarcinomas of the female genital tract with or without argyrophil cells were studied by immunohistology for mucous antigens. These were isolated from intestinal mucosa and ovarian mucinous cyst fluid. Mucous antigen, M1 which is primarily associated with ovarian mucinous cystadenoma, was found in all mucinous tumors of the ovary, adenocarcinoma of the cervix, and endometrium. Intestinal mucous antigen (IMA), which is specific for goblet cells of the normal intestinal mucosa, was detected only in a few mucinous tumors of the ovary, with or without argyrophil cells. It was concluded that, while M1 was common to glandular gynecologic neoplasms, no special relationship existed between IMA and argyrophil cells in tumors of the ovary, endometrium, and endocervix.