Histological and cytogenetic findings in a malignant tumor of the chest wall and lung (Askin tumor).

This report describes a histological and cytogenetic study of a malignant tumor involving the chest wall and lung (Askin tumor) of a young girl. Although initially considered to represent a variant of Ewing's sarcoma, immunocytochemical studies disclosed neuron-specific enolase in neoplastic cells. Ultrastructural study revealed rare cells which contained microtubules and/or dense core neurosecretory type granules. Cytogenetic analysis of neoplastic cells disclosed a reciprocal translocation (11;22)(q24;q12) and occasional extrachromosomal structures interpreted as double minute chromosomes. The latter finding, an indication of gene amplification, is commonly identified in neural crest-derived neoplasms. These ultrastructural, immunocytochemical, and karyotypic data provide evidence in support of a neuroepithelial histogenesis for the Askin tumor.