Immunoglobulin demonstration in circumorificial plasmacytosis

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a study focusing on immunoglobulin demonstration in circumorificial plasmacytosis. Paraffin blocks of 22 biopsies of circumorificial plasmacytosis from different locations were available for this study. Sections were deparaffinized and treated with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique according to Sternberger (1979) with control serum, anti-IgA, anti-IgG, anti-IgM, and anti-lysozyme. Ig-containing plasma cells (PCs) were counted and graded as 1+:1–10 PC per medium power field, 2+: 10–15 PC, 3+:50–100, and 4+:more than 100. Lysozyme-immunoreactive polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) and monocytes/macrophages were similarly counted. In 20 out of the 22 biopsy specimens investigated, there were markedly more IgG PC than IGA PC. Very high numbers of IgM PC were only found in two biopsies and high numbers in another three specimens. Lysozyme-positive PMNL were found in 19 specimens; however, macrophages were demonstrated in only one biopsy. Folliclelike lymphocytic foci were found in four specimens. No clonal proliferation of PC producing only one Ig was seen in association with these lymphocytic infiltrates. Germinal centers within such foci were found in one biopsy.