Desmoplastic trichoepithelioma: clinico-pathological features and immunohistochemical study of the basement membrane proteins, laminin and type IV collagen.

Abstract

Six desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas (DT) from four patients were studied immunohistochemically, using antibodies to the human PI fragment of laminin and the 7S domain of type IV collagen. The staining of the basement membrane around the tumour clusters was distinct and continuous in most areas, but there were discontinuities and a granular appearance of the basement membrane in the areas of keratinized cysts and calcification around some unorganized epithelial cell nests. The discontinuities of the basement membranes may be a sign of epithelial degeneration or altered differentiation rather than malignancy.