Search

• Myxomas are benign tumors that resemble a primitive mesenchyma and rarely occur in the conjunctiva. A clinicopathologic study of four new cases is reported, with a review of the clinical, structural, and behavioral characteristics of the previously reported eight cases. In this study, histochemical analysis of the mucous substance indicated that hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfates were present. On ultrastructural examination, the myxoma cell had secretory vacuoles and numerous intermediate-sized cytoplasmic filaments. Adults of an average age of 50.8 years were most often affected. The most common initial complaint was of a painless, slow-growing conjunctival mass, present for an average of 31 months. These tumors typically had a smooth, fleshy, gelatinous appearance. The high recurrence rate that has been noted in orbital and cardiac myxomas was not a feature of these conjunctival myxomas. With an average follow-up of 29 months, a single excision appeared to have been adequate treatment.

To the Editor:— In his discussion of the article by Garvey and Lawrence on facial diplegia in lymphatic leukemia (The Journal, Dec. 16, 1933), Dr. R. H. Jaffe said: "While in malignant tumors metastases develop from the primary tumor by the implantation of cells derived from the primary tumor, the leukemic infiltrations develop locally from the undifferentiated mesenchyma." Many pathologists accept the fact that the local undifferentiated cells of the mesenchyma (mesodermal tissue) throughout the body participate in the provision of the leukemic elements. An example of the aborigenous proliferation of cells in leukemia is furnished by the observation that in the subcutaneous leukemic nodules the cells are not imported but produced locally. However, lymphomas found in the brain are essentially formed by immigrated cells. In my article on leukemia and the central nervous system ( Arch. Path. 2: 23 [July] 1926), to which Garvey and Lawrence made reference, I said