Overlapping expression of immunohistochemical markers and synaptophysin mRNA in pheochromocytomas and adrenocortical carcinomas. Implications for the differential diagnosis of adrenal gland tumors.

Abstract

Poly Sia of the neural cell adhesion molecule is consistently detected in normal adrenal medullary cells as well as in PCCs, and is occasionally focally expressed in ACCs. CrgA, CK, and D11 are reliable markers to immunohistochemically distinguish ACC from PCC. Immunoreactivity for SYN and detection of its mRNA in the majority of ACCs indicates the existence of tumor cells sharing both cortical and medullary features. Such focal neuroendocrine differentiation in ACCs can lead to confusion with PCCs.