352 



HISTOLOGY OF THE MORBID PROCESSES. 



with mucous and fibrous tissue, adenomatous new formations, or 

 sarcoma (Fig. 313). 



Chondromata are subject to a number of secondary changes, the 

 most important of which are : calcification ; conversion into a spe- 

 cies of mucoid tissue through softening of the matrix and modi- 

 fication of the cells, which assume a stellate form ; transformation 

 into an osteoid tissue, resembling bone devoid of earthy salts ; or 

 into a fairly well-developed calcified bone (Fig. 314). Local soften- 



FIG. 314. 



Osteoid endochondroma. Section from a metatastic nodule in the lung. The cartilage is 

 atypical, and is arranged in a manner simulating that of cancellated bone. Between the 

 bands and lamina of cartilage is a mixture of mucous and sarcomatous tissue, myxosar- 

 coma, which has rendered the tumor subject to metastasis. The whole tumor may, then, 

 be called a chondromyxosarcoma. 



ing of the tumor may also take place through a liquefaction of the 

 matrix and disintegration of the cells. The latter may also undergo 

 a fatty degeneration in parts of a tumor which show no signs of 

 softening of the matrix. 



Chondromata are classed with the benign tumors, but occasional 

 instances of metastasis are on record. It is difficult to understand 

 how this could take place in the case of the harder chondromata, in 

 which the cartilage is surrounded by a somewhat dense fibrous tissue 

 resembling the normal perichondrium. Where there is an admixt- 

 ure with either sarcomatous or myxomatous tissues, these confer 

 a malignant character upon the mixed tumor, and it is quite possi- 



