354 



HISTOLOGY OF THE MORBID PROCESSES. 



stance containing mucin in variable quantities (Fig. 316). This tissue 

 is closely allied to the other forms of connective tissues and tumors 

 are rarely composed of mucous tissue alone. There is usually an 

 admixture with fibrous tissue, bone, cartilage, fat, or sarcoma ; form- 



FIG. 316. 



|r 



. # _ 



Section from a subcutaneous myxoma. (Birch-Hirschfeld.) 



ing fibromyxoma, osteomyxoma, chondromyxoma, lipomyxoma, or 

 myxosarcoma (Fig. 317). The flat endothelial cells of connective 

 tissue also sometimes proliferate to such an extent as to form an 



FIG. 317. 



Myxosarcoma of the femur. To the left of the section the tissue is nearly pure mucous 

 tissue. Toward the right, this tissue gradually merges into a more highly cellular struct- 

 ure, constituting the sarcomatous element in the growth. It is this admixture with 

 sarcoma that gives the tumor a malignant character. 



appreciable constituent of the tumor, the cells being large, rather 

 rich in protoplasm and frequently multinucleated. When this de- 

 velopment is pronounced the tumor may be designated a myxen- 

 dothelioma, and approaches the myxosarcomata in character. 



