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The Habits (Ecology) of Tumors
136
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OP OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
walls of the vagina. These cysts arc linea by one or two layers of cuboidal cells, though the vagilUl.l epithelium of the fetus shows a change to a stratified type. The type of epithelium depends on whether the congenital fault occurs high up in the part of the miillerian duct that naturally carries cylindrical epithelium or low down in the region of solid strands of cuboidal cells. The author had two cases which showed cylindrical epithelium lying on top of stratified epithelium. Some authorities believe thnt these cysts may arise from vaginal glands. Papillary outgrowths into the cavity of the cyst are found oc· casionally, and these f.avor the pinching off theory as regards etiology. The author reports two such eases. No eiliated epithelium was found in any of the author's fourteen cases. Development from remains of Gurtner's duet is the commonest etiology of vaginal cysts. Some eases show multiple cysts along a line running up the vagina. They are lined by cuboidal epithelium. Cysts which have a lining of thin strntiiied epithelium may arise from attempts at gland formation on the part of tbe vaginal epithelium or from inclusions of islands of cells during the healing of birth lacerations. Lymph vessels may give rise to cysts, their lining consisting of endothelial cells. One ease of sarcoma developing in sueh a ryst bas been described. Deep· lying nabothian cysts may resemble vaginal cysts. Vaginal cysts are usually benign. The author reports two eases with no epithelial lining, it probably having been destroyed by birth trauma. Cysts may be ruptured during labor and may rarely become infected. He describes three cases accompanied by vaginal septa and infantilism of the genital organs. Other coexisting congenital abnormalities have been described, such as bicornuate uterus, imperforate hymen, etc. FRANK A. PEMBERTON. Bland-Sutton, JO'hn: The Habits (Ecology) of Tumors. nal, November 10, 1923, p. 847.
British Medical Jour-
The author endeavors to show that in their life history, tumors correspond with the parent organs, pass through a period of grov-rth, attain maturity, exercise in some instances the same function as the parent organ, which leads to an increase in their bulk. They not only agree in structure ;vith the tissues of the organs in which they arise, but they conform to the habits (ecology) of the par· ent organ. When present in the hollow viscera they may excite these organs to action. They may often initiate functional activity in an organ. He cites submucous fibroids as an example, and calls attention to the faet that these tumors may simulate pregnancy very closely. He also speaks of the erosive action of villi in relation to tumors. Tumors of glandular organs are frequently endowed with functional activity. He cites various examples. In regard to ovarian dermoids he believes it is an established fact that these tumors differ from ova which have become actively independent of a normal stimulus. An ovarian fetus which we call an embryonal rudiment is produced in this way. He states that "in the common kind of ova· rian embryoma the cutaneous elements are conspicuous; the products resulting from the activity of the skin preponderate and make up the bulk of the tumor mass. In mucigenous ovarian tumors the so-called 'colloid stuff' is furnished by the gastrointestinal epithelium of the embryoma"; in them the mucous membrane prevails. In this manner he supports his thesis: "Many tumors become manifest by the accumulation of the products of their owo activity.'' F. L. ADAIR.
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OP OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
walls of the vagina. These cysts arc linea by one or two layers of cuboidal cells, though the vagilUl.l epithelium of the fetus shows a change to a stratified type. The type of epithelium depends on whether the congenital fault occurs high up in the part of the miillerian duct that naturally carries cylindrical epithelium or low down in the region of solid strands of cuboidal cells. The author had two cases which showed cylindrical epithelium lying on top of stratified epithelium. Some authorities believe thnt these cysts may arise from vaginal glands. Papillary outgrowths into the cavity of the cyst are found oc· casionally, and these f.avor the pinching off theory as regards etiology. The author reports two such eases. No eiliated epithelium was found in any of the author's fourteen cases. Development from remains of Gurtner's duet is the commonest etiology of vaginal cysts. Some eases show multiple cysts along a line running up the vagina. They are lined by cuboidal epithelium. Cysts which have a lining of thin strntiiied epithelium may arise from attempts at gland formation on the part of tbe vaginal epithelium or from inclusions of islands of cells during the healing of birth lacerations. Lymph vessels may give rise to cysts, their lining consisting of endothelial cells. One ease of sarcoma developing in sueh a ryst bas been described. Deep· lying nabothian cysts may resemble vaginal cysts. Vaginal cysts are usually benign. The author reports two eases with no epithelial lining, it probably having been destroyed by birth trauma. Cysts may be ruptured during labor and may rarely become infected. He describes three cases accompanied by vaginal septa and infantilism of the genital organs. Other coexisting congenital abnormalities have been described, such as bicornuate uterus, imperforate hymen, etc. FRANK A. PEMBERTON. Bland-Sutton, JO'hn: The Habits (Ecology) of Tumors. nal, November 10, 1923, p. 847.
British Medical Jour-
The author endeavors to show that in their life history, tumors correspond with the parent organs, pass through a period of grov-rth, attain maturity, exercise in some instances the same function as the parent organ, which leads to an increase in their bulk. They not only agree in structure ;vith the tissues of the organs in which they arise, but they conform to the habits (ecology) of the par· ent organ. When present in the hollow viscera they may excite these organs to action. They may often initiate functional activity in an organ. He cites submucous fibroids as an example, and calls attention to the faet that these tumors may simulate pregnancy very closely. He also speaks of the erosive action of villi in relation to tumors. Tumors of glandular organs are frequently endowed with functional activity. He cites various examples. In regard to ovarian dermoids he believes it is an established fact that these tumors differ from ova which have become actively independent of a normal stimulus. An ovarian fetus which we call an embryonal rudiment is produced in this way. He states that "in the common kind of ova· rian embryoma the cutaneous elements are conspicuous; the products resulting from the activity of the skin preponderate and make up the bulk of the tumor mass. In mucigenous ovarian tumors the so-called 'colloid stuff' is furnished by the gastrointestinal epithelium of the embryoma"; in them the mucous membrane prevails. In this manner he supports his thesis: "Many tumors become manifest by the accumulation of the products of their owo activity.'' F. L. ADAIR.