Undifferentiated carcinoma of the maxillary sinus with osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cell reaction in the stroma Light microscopic and ultrastructural study.

Abstract

A case of undifferentiated carcinoma originating from the maxillary sinus with osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells resembling those of giant cell lesions of bone is presented. Although the histogenesis of the osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells is not definitely established, it is proposed that the multinucleated giant cells are reactive in nature and histiocytic in origin because of their benign appearance, high level of acid-phosphatase activity and ultrastructural features, and that they arise from mononuclear histiocytic cells.F urthermore, histopathologic findings of the carcinoma that followed are reported.