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An unusual case of intraparenchymal myofibromatosis of the brain occurring in a 29-year-old woman is described. Preoperative CT and MRI examinations revealed two well-circumscribed nodular masses localized in the wall of the left lateral ventricle and right temporal lobe, respectively. Both masses were completely resected, and the patient remains disease-free 2 years post-surgery. Histopathologically, the lesions were characterized by stratification. From outer to inner, there was a reactive glial component, lamellated well-differentiated muscle-like cells, densely compact collagen fibers and cellular tumor with nodular and hemangiopericytoma-like patterns, respectively. The myofibroblastic nature of this tumor was verified by immunohistochemical staining and ultrastructural analysis. Intraparenchymal myofibromatosis may be confused with, and should be distinguished from, meningioma, myopericytoma, solitary fibrous tumor, leiomyoma and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor for accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the structural characterization of myofibroblasts in the bladder by researchers from Manchester, England. The cellular physiology of the lower urinary tract is in an exciting phase thanks to the identification of a novel cell type, present in the bladder within the detrusor and in the suburothelial space. Such cells might have the potential to intercede in several fundamental processes, including processing of sensory information, pacemaking, and modulating contractile function.