Histochemical study of acid phosphatase isoenzyme in leukemic reticuloendotheliosis

Abstract

Histochemical study of the tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase isoenzyme was made on frozen sections of surgical specimens from leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. The tumor cells of this disease were found to have strong tartrate‐resistant enzyme activity. Control studies on preparations of malignant lymphoma, other hematologic disorders, neoplasms of nonhematopoietic organs and normal tissues showed very little isoenzyme activity. Exceptions were found in specimens involved by Hodgkin's disease and in an adrenal of one patient with aldosteronism. It was proposed that the histochemical demonstration of the isoenzyme in the bone marrow, liver, or spleen can be used as a diagnostic criterion for leukemic reticuloendotheliosis, thus differentiating it from lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma. Copyright © 1972 American Cancer Society