Corpora amylacea in adenolymphoma (Warthin's tumor)

Round or polyhedral, acellular, lamellated or amorphous eosinophilic structures were observed in the cystic spaces of adenolymphomas. These eosinophilic bodies had several of the histochemical characteristics of amyloid, viz., pink color with green specific birefringence and bright red fluorescence with alkaline Congo red; positive DMAB-nitrite and DC reactions, and spontaneous autofluorescence. It is suggested that these bodies are derived from spontaneous assembly or polymerization of microfibrils of desquamated epithelial cells lining the cystic spaces of the tumor, as has been described to occur in prostatic corpora amylacea.