The tumor-stroma junction of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx was examined electron microscopically. Polymorphic cytoplasmic protrusions (blebs) with a diameter ranging from 2--4 micron to 8--10 micron were observed on the basal and lateral surfaces of the malignant keratinocytes. A system of cytoplasmic 6--8 nm microfilaments can be seen consistently at the base of the blebs. The microfilaments possibly serve as a contractile ring during the pinching-off process of the blebs from the malignant keratinocytes. The blebs were observed at various stages of development until the pinching-off process occurred. They have varying shapes, sizes, and electron density and are plasmamembrane bounded. They contain hyaline ectoplasm, ribosome particles, a fine filamentous and fine granular material as well as some lysosomes. The blebbing phenomenon is discussed in respect to the cellular locomotion of malignant keratinocytes and interpreted as a possible temporary invasion mechanism in the preliminary stages of the tumor growth.
Modern concepts on the classification and prognosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are discussed in this paper. The full spectrum of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas is not yet known. A new classification of histomorphological types of mycosis fungoides and Sézary's syndrome in correlation with prognostic features is proposed.
The case of a patient with a recurrence of gonorrhoea due to a concomitant gonorrhoic infection of a paraurethral duct, which was not healed by the initial routine penicillin treatment, is reported.
The ultrastructural findings in four cases of angiosarcoma of the scalp are reported. There is some evidence that the presence of ultrastructural markers of normal endothelial cells, such as Weibel Palade bodies, within the tumour cells may be of prognostic value.
Two cases of spindle cell tumors are presented which by histopathology, histochemistry and electron microscopy were classified as desmoplastic melanoma and neurotropic melanoma, respectively. The striking similarity of these tumors has to be regarded as further evidence of the close histogenetic relationship of desmoplastic and neurotropic melanoma.
