Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:Uterine and some extrauterine leiomyomas frequently express estrogen and progesterone receptors. This fact is utilized in hormonal therapy with gonadotropin analogues. Our purpose was to examine whether ciliary body leiomyomas similarly express estrogen/progesterone hormone receptors. Methods:14 cases of ciliary body leiomyomas were retrieved from the files of our Ocular Pathology Lab from 1980 to 2000. The mean age was 39.5, range 16-68. Seven patients were males, and seven were females. We studied 4 cases from which paraffin-embedded material was available (3 females, 1 male, mean age:23, range: 10-33). Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies were used to positively identify the tumors as mesoectodermal leiomyomas. Immunohistochemical staining for estrogen and progesterone receptors was performed according to established laboratory protocols with proper controls. Results:Light microscopy and immunohistochemical staining for smooth muscle actin identified all tumors as leiomyomas. Similarly, electron microscopy revealed fusiform densities and neural filaments compatible with mesoectodermal leiomyoma. Neither estrogen nor progesterone receptors were detected in the studied sections. Conclusion:Like uterine leiomyomas, ciliary body leiomyomas tend to occur in females in their reproductive years. While the former tumors almost universally express estrogen receptors, and sometimes progesterone receptors, none of the ciliary body leiomyomas in our series stained positively. This may reflect the difference in embrionic origin. While ciliary body leiomyomas derive from mesoectoderm (neural crest), myometrium develops from mesenchyme. It is therefore unlikely that hormonal suppressive therapy would arrest or reverse the growth of these tumors.
Keywords: 348 ciliary body • 610 tumors • 611 uvea