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Cellular composition of the so-called dermatofibroma (Histiocytoma cutis)

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Summary

9 typical cases of dermatofibroma or histiocytoma cutis resp. were studied by the aid of histochemical, enzyme histochemical and electron microscopical methods to examine the cellular composition of these lesions. The results suggest an anabolic and katabolic function of cells. Electron microscopically a broad spectrum of patterns of mesenchymal cells was found. Besides defined fibroblast-like and histiocyte-like elements a cell type was detected which was characterized by particular traits, as irregularnuclear outline, abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes, bundles of filaments with single dense zones, micropinocytotic vesicles and a basement membrane-like material on the outer cell surface. This cell type constitutes the majority of cells in dermatofibroma or histiocytoma cutis resp. In some cells an arrangement of filament bundles resembling that in smooth muscle could be seen. By reason of these findings a certain resemblance to the so-called myofibroblasts can be stated. The variegation of the morphological picture suggests a multipotent precursor cell; the possibility of an origin from pericytes is discussed.

Zusammenfassung

An Hand 9 typischer Fälle von Dermatofibrom bzw. Histiocytoma cutis wurde mittels histochemischer, enzymhistochemischer und elektronenmikroskopischer Methoden die celluläre Zusammensetzung untersucht. Dabei waren Hinweise auf anabolische und katabolische Eigenschaften der Zellen zu erheben. Elektronenmikroskopisch ergab sich ein breites Spektrum mesenchymaler Zellformen. Neben definierten fibroblasten- und histiocytenähnlichen Zellelementen fand sich eine Zellart, die das morphologische Bild zahlenmäßig beherrschte und die durch besondere Merkmale, wie unregelmäßige Kernformen, reichlich rauhes endoplasmatisches Reticulum, freie Ribosomen, Filamentbündel mit einzelnen Verdichtungsbezirken, Mikropinocytosevesikel und ein basalmembranähnliches Material an der ZellaußenScite charakterisiert war. Gelegentlich konnte eine Anordnung der Faserbündel wie in der glatten Muskulatur nachgewiesen werden. Auf Grund dieser Befunde ist eine gewisse Ähnlichkeit zu sogenannten Myofibroblasten festzustellen. Die Vielgestaltigkeit des morphologischen Bildes weist auf eine multipotente Vorläuferzelle hin; die Möglichkeit, daß es sich dabei um Pericyten handelt, wird diskutiert.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, DDR

    Detlef Katenkamp & Dankwart Stiller

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  1. Detlef Katenkamp
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  2. Dankwart Stiller
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The authors are gratefully indebted to Miss W. Bräuer for technical assistance.

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Katenkamp, D., Stiller, D. Cellular composition of the so-called dermatofibroma (Histiocytoma cutis). Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 367, 325–336 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239339

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239339

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