ABSTRACT
This paper reports on clinical, laboratory, and pathologic findings of 10 cases of an idiopathic form of hyperpigmentation of the clavicular zone, a peculiar entity of circumscribed, glistening, pigmented lesions affecting young Latin women. Pathologic findings consisted of focal to extensive necrosis of the epidermis, focal areas of junctional cleavage, and melanin deposition within the epidermis, dermis, and melanophages, which places this lesion within the group of brown hypermelanoses. The authors feel that friction with clothing or with scrub pads made of sedge (a very common practice amongst mexicans in the bath room) against clavicular protuberances is fundamental in its pathogenesis.
Subject(s)
Melanosis/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Clavicle , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Prospective StudiesSubject(s)
Facial Dermatoses/pathology , Granuloma/pathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Mexico , Middle Aged , Sunlight/adverse effectsABSTRACT
A rare case of malacoplakia of the uterine cervix is described. The histologic, histochemical and ultrastructural findings in this case were typical of this entity. The typical Michaelis-Gutmann bodies were quite easily identified in the cervicovaginal smear with the use of the Von Kossa stain. This method can be an important diagnostic aid in cytologically differentiating this lesion from neoplastic or parasitic processes.
Subject(s)
Cervix Uteri/pathology , Malacoplakia/pathology , Uterine Cervical Diseases/pathology , Aged , Biopsy , Cervix Uteri/ultrastructure , Cytoplasmic Granules/ultrastructure , Female , Humans , Microscopy, ElectronABSTRACT
We describe an 18-year-old woman with a mass in the region of the right ovary. The mass, which had a central cavity lined by endometrium and surrounded by smooth muscle, extraordinarily resembled a uterus. Review of the literature disclosed only one such case in which this change was considered to arise from endomyometriosis of the ovary, a phenomenon characterized by smooth-muscle metaplasia in a focus of endometriosis. Although this possibility is interesting and plausible, we believe that a congenital malformation, possibly caused by a defect in fusion of müllerian ducts, should strongly be considered in explaining the pathogenesis of this kind of lesion.
