682 



THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF THE FEMALE. 



and may proceed slowly or rapidly. The edges of the ulcer are irregular, 

 indurated, and somewhat elevated. The ulceration of the new-formed 

 cancerous tissue at the edges is usually progressive, so that the vaginal 

 portion of the cervix, the cervical canal, the vagina, and even the blad- 

 der and rectum may be involved. More or less extensive haemorrhages 

 and necrosis of the base of the ulcer are liable to occur. The entire cer- 

 vix may be destroyed. 



2. In another class of cases the carcinomatous growth develops under 

 the form of papillary or fungous excrescences, which may form larger or 

 smaller masses composed of epitheliomatous tissue. Hand-iu-hand with 

 this projecting growth there may occur an epithelial infiltration of the 

 underlying tissue of the cervix. These growths are often quite vascular 



'-xXS: >:; ; .-'.' s^v 





FIG. 436. CARCINOMA (EPITHELIOMA) OF THE UTERUS. 

 Showing ramifying epithelial cell masses. 



and may give rise to severe haemorrhages. They may ulcerate and thus 

 produce great destruction of tissue. 



3. In still another class of cases there is a more or less deep infiltra- 

 tion of the submucous tissue, either diffuse or in circumscribed nodules, 

 with epithelial cell masses. We find at first, in the vaginal portion of 

 the cervix, in the submucous connective tissue, either nodules or a gen- 



