176 



MYXOMATA. 



iij:* a certain number of histological subspecies of the myxoma. 

 The optical and physical properties of mucin are (§ 39) best dis- 

 played when the number of cells, whether round or stellate, is 

 small in proportion to the amount of intercellular substance. 

 Accordingly the hyaline myxoma (fig. 56) is the most charac- 

 teristic form of the entire grouj^ ; it is colourless, translucent, 

 like a tremulous jelly. Should the cells predominate, either in 

 the entire tumour or in single portions of it, we get a whitish, 

 marrowy condition — the medullary my.voma. Fatty infiltration 

 of the cells leads to the formation of a Upomatous myxoma (m. 

 lipomatodes). 



Fig. 56. 



Hyaline myxoma of the subcntaueous connective tissue near 

 the angle of the jaw. -^. 



§ 143. The myxoma, like the lipoma, has a lobulated struc- 

 ture ; it is made up of separate parts of variable size, which are 

 separated from one another by partitions of connective tissue. 

 Little is known at present concerning the arrangement of its 

 blood-vessels ; injections of a hyaline myxoma of the cheek 

 (as large as a closed fist) made by myself, lead me to suspect 

 that myxomata are but sparingly provided with capillaries, that 

 their vessels are mainly of largish calibre, and run in the thicker 

 septa. 



Myxomata form nodular swellings which increase rapidly in 

 size ; owing to this circumstance, as well as to the great softness 

 of their tissue, they are often mistaken for soft cancer. They 

 resemble lipomata in making for the surface by the shortest or 

 easiest route ; here they form nodulated or fungous projections, 

 and may even become pendulous or polypoid. 



Tlie subcutaneous areolar tissue of the thigh and back, and 



