Adenocarcinoma of ceruminous glands. Ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and lectin histochemical studies.

: A case of ceruminous adenocarcinoma is reported. The tumor destroyed the right pyramid, widely invaded the base of the skull and caused death shortly after the diagnosis. Distant metastases were not found by autopsy. The tumour cells reacted with epithelial markers and with the antibody against S-100 protein. Heparan sulphate proteoglycan seemed to be a good marker for detecting basement membrane ruptures and concomitant tumour invasion. Among the lectins BS-I and PNA gave the strongest reactions in the stroma. This is the first immunohistochemical and lectin histochemical report on ceruminous adenocarcinoma.