Histopathological study on the finger tips skin of an autopsy case used pnumatic vibrating tools for 17 years / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The Raynaud phenomenon of fingers, a specific physical disturbance, frequently occurs in those who have used pneumatic vibrating tools such as chain saws for many years. Only a few pathological studies of this lesion have been reported although there are many clinical physiological studies. We conducted an autopsy of a 71-year-old man, who was a patient with cholecystocarcinoma and died of pneumonia. He had worked for 17 years using pneumatic vibrating tools and had been an out-patient of the surgical department, where he received physical treatment and spa therapy because he suffered from the Raynaud syndrome in his left fingers. The findings obtained from a microscopic observation of the finger tip skin of the corpse are summarized as follows<br>1. Many dilated small arteries, accompanied by local thickening of the intima and torn medial elastic fibers, were noticed between the subpapillary and deep layer of the dermis.<br>2. Stenotic arterioles due to muscular hyperplasia of the media were relatively few.<br>3. Dilatation of capillaries was found in the subpapillary layer of the dermis, and dilatation of small veins, in the deep layer.<br>4. Atrophy was noticed in the peripheral neurofibers, Vater-Pacini corpuscles, and sweat glands.<br>5. The dermis showed sclerotic changes with marked diffuse fibrosis.