On the origin of the so-called naevus cells of soft moles and the formation of the malignant growths derived from them / by Arthur Whitfield.

  • Whitfield, Arthur, 1868-1947.
Date:
[1900]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: On the origin of the so-called naevus cells of soft moles and the formation of the malignant growths derived from them / by Arthur Whitfield. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    In examining and comparing the two classes I was struck by the fact that in the highly malignant variety two classes of cell could be seen. One, as already mentioned, was found either in the process of snaring off from the epidermis, or had evidently just been snared off, thus retaining much of its resemblance to its parents, the other was deeply situated in the corium and arranged in good alveoli, having lost nearly all its protoplasm, and corresponding to the typical cell in mevus cords. The inference may. perhaps, be made that the former cells become actively separated from the epidermis as the result of the malignant process, while the latter had lived for years in the corium constituting part of the original innocent mole. In the case of the less malignant type only the growth of the first class was found, and none of the deep groups and cords of naevus cells; in fact, as 1 mentioned above, but for the history I think it would have been impossible to state that the growth was secondary to a mole at all. I am very conscious that four cases is by no means a safe number to argue from, but I would point out a line for future examination, suggesting that this point of the deep structure be especially investigated with a view to ascertain- ing whether one is justified in separating the highly from the slightly malignant in this way. A further point that is desirable is to discover the kind of mole from which the second type grows. This I have not yet been able to do, for although moles are common these cases are rare, and it will probably mean a long search before this very superficial type is discovered. In conclusion, for the use of others working with pigmented growths, I should like to mention a method of bleaching which I have found rapid, certain, and not liable to injure the section or to render after- staining difficult. The sections are first soaked for from five to ten minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate of potash (exact strength not important), washed in water, and then decolourised in sulphurous acid solution (B.P.). After a very few minutes’ washing in water the sections may be stained in almost any of the ordinary ways with great ease. Literature. v. Recklinghausen, “Ueber die multiplen Fibrome der Haut,” Berlin, 1882. Leedham Green, Virchow's Archiv, Bd. CXXXIV., p. 381. Bauer, Virchoiv's Archiv, Bd. CXLIII., p. 407. Delbanco, Monatshefte fur prahtische Dermatologie, XXII., p. 105.