Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain in serous tumours and clear cell carcinomas of the ovary. A morphometric study
Abstract
PAS staining of 118 serous tumours and 17 clear cell carcinomas of the ovary were investigated by morphometric means. There were 45 benign, 24 borderline and 49 malignant serous tumours. Serous borderline cystadenomas contained more PAS positive mucin than benign cystadenomas or cystadenocarcinomas. Saliva did not markedly influence the staining in serous tumours as judged by subjective estimation or morphometry. Subjective evaluation showed a decrease in staining of 12 clear cell carcinomas after saliva treatment. Morphometry revealed a change in 11 cases. Of 5 cases with no subjective difference 3 showed difference when estimated with morphometry. The study suggests that differential diagnosis and grading of ovarian tumours may benefit from the quantitative estimation of PAS staining and staining differences before and after saliva treatment.