268 



THE MICROSCOPIST. 



2. Areola fibroma, or fibre-cellular tumor, consists of 

 bundles of connective fibres with spaces containing serous 

 or mucous fluid. It occurs in circumscribed or diffuse 

 form. The circumscribed is found in the skin and sub- 

 cutaneous tissue, especially of the scrotum, labia majora, 

 around the vagina, in intermuscular connective tissue, 

 periosteum, uterus, mammae, etc. The diffuse occur often- 

 est in the skin as soft warts (fibroma molluscum, Fig. 217); 



FIG. 217. 



Fibroma molluscum. 1. Completed tissue, after Virchow. 2. Immature condition. 

 Formation of clefts in the pareiichymatous islands. 1-200. At a, the lumen of a vessel. 

 After KINDFLEISCH. 



as elephantiasis of the scrotum, prepuce, labia, clitoris, of 

 the extremities, nose, etc. ; and as polypi in the submu- 

 cous tissue of the pharynx, nose, uterus, etc. 



b. Mucous Tissue Type. 



1. Myxoma, or mucous tumor, occurs either pure or 

 mixed with other tissues. It consists of a mucous basis- 

 substance, with stellate or spindle-shaped anastomosing 

 cells (Fig. 218), or in young myxomas, of small round 

 cells, like mucous corpuscles. Myxoma form rapidly- 

 growing, soft, knotty swellings, which may be mistaken 

 for soft cancers. They may be classed with benign tu- 

 mors, and do not return after thorough extirpation. 



