Heterogeneity in a colonic carcinoid tumor

Abstract

This report describes a colonic carcinoid tumor in which three, and possibly four, distinct cell types are distinguishable on the basis of their ultrastructure and granule morphology. These cell types closely resemble the normal endocrine cells of the large bowel, both in appearances and in relative frequency. The mixed composition of this tumor may have arisen either by parallel differentiation of distinct cell types, or by sequential maturation of one cell type.