THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF THE FEMALE. 685 



tissue, the absorption of deleterious materials, etc., are apt to lead to the 

 development of a more or less profound anaemia and cachexia. 



Deciduoma Malignum. Under various names several curious tumors 

 of the uterus have been described which resemble each other, but which 

 differ in structures from any of those in the usual lists. They are, how- 

 ever, most closely allied to the sarcomata. They all occur in the uterus 

 after pregnancy, and all appear to be derived from remains of the decidua 



;... ,, .-.-;...-. 



- 



FIG. 440. DECIDCOMA MALIGNUM STNCTTIOMA. 



or its associated structures (Fig. 439). They frequently give rise to 

 haemorrhages and are apt to form metastases, especially in the vagina 

 and lungs. 



The structure of these tumors varies considerably. The most typical 

 forms consist of irregular clusters or trabeculae of large irregular-shaped 

 cells with prominent nuclei or of masses of protoplasm, as well as of 

 smaller cells. These cells and cell masses often enclose blood spaces (Fig. 

 440). There is relatively little stroma syncytioma. 



On the other hand, some of the tumors in which the connective-tissue 

 elements more largely share are appropriately called Sarcoma deciduo- 

 cellulare. 



Whether these tumors are derived from the fo3tal or from the ma- 

 terual tissues is not in all cases clear ; perhaps only one or both may in 

 the different cases be concerned in the growth. ' 



PARASITES AND CYSTS. 



Echinococcus has been found in the body and neck of the uterus, and 

 may rupture into the peritoneal cavity or into the vagina. 



1 For a careful description and consideration of these tumors consult the article by 

 Williams in the Johns Hopkins Hospital Reports, vol. iv., p. 461, 1895; also, for sum- 

 mary and full bibl., see Miinzer, Cbl. f. Path., Bd. xiii., 1902, p. 197. 



