What is the Clinical Significance of Argentaffin Cells?
Argentaffin cells have significant clinical relevance, particularly in the diagnosis of certain gastrointestinal disorders and tumors. For instance, an increase in the number of argentaffin cells can be seen in conditions like carcinoid tumors, which are neuroendocrine tumors arising from these cells. These tumors can secrete excessive amounts of serotonin and other substances, leading to symptoms such as flushing, diarrhea, and wheezing.
