Summary
Tumour tissue surgically excised from 10 patients bearing Ewing's tumour of bones was examined electron microscopically and histoenzymologically. In all cases the tumour was composed of polygonal cells with cytoplasm poor in organelles but with conspicuous aggregates of glycogen particles. There were numerous intercellular connections of desmosomal type and a distinct cell membrane bound positivity for alkaline phosphatase activity. In two cases in which there was a negative reaction for alkaline phosphatase, the lack of enzyme activity might have been related to cytotoxic treatment carried out for several months immediately before excision of the tissue used for histoenzymological studies. The problem of histogenesis of Ewing's tumour remains unresolved although some of the present findings support a haemangiogenic origin of the tumour.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Battifora, H.: Hemangiopericytoma: Ultrastructural study of five cases. Cancer 31, 1418–1432 (1973)
Ewing, J.: Diffuse endothelioma of bone. Proc. N.Y. Path. Soc. 21, 17–24 (1921)
Erlandson, R.A., Huvos, A.G.: Chondrosarcoma: A light and electron microscopic study. Cancer 34, 1642–1652 (1974)
Friedman, B., Gold, H.: Ultrastructure of Ewing's sarcoma. Cancer 22, 307–322 (1968)
Friedman, B., Hanaoka, H.: Round cell sarcomas of bone, J. Bone Joint Surg. 53 A, 1118–1135 (1971)
Hou-Jensen, K., Priori, E., Dmochowski, L.: Studies on ultrastructure of Ewing's sarcoma of bone. Cancer 29, 280–286 (1972)
Huvos, A.G., Marcove, R.C., Erlandson, R.A., Miké, V.: Chondroblastoma of bone. Cancer 29, 760–771 (1972)
Kadin, M.E., Bensch, K.G.: On the origin of Ewing's tumour. Cancer 27, 257–273 (1971)
Lennert, K., Niedorf, H.R.: Reticulum cells with desmosomal connections in follicular lymphoma. Virchows Arch. Abt. B Zellpath. 4, 148–150 (1969)
Llombart, A., Peydro, A., Lopez-Fernandez, A., Zuzuarregui, C.: Sur les sarcomas réticulaires de la moelle osseuse type Ewing. Ann. Anat. Path. 15, 431–452 (1970)
Macintosh, D.J., Price C.H.G., Jeffree, G.H.: Ewing's tumour. A study of behaviour and treatment in forty seven cases. J. Bone Joint Surg. 57 B, 331–340 (1975)
Melnick, P.J.: Histogenesis of Ewing's sarcoma of bone, with post-mortem report of a case. Amer. J. Cancer 19, 353–363 (1933)
Molo, F., Monga, A., Stramignoni, A.: Dark reticular cells in human lymphadenitis and lymphomas. Virchows Arch. Abt. B Zellpath. 3, 117–126 (1969)
Motlík, K., Stárka, L.: Morphological changes in the endocrine glands of female rats injected with aminoglutethimide. Acta Univ. Carolinae Med. 18, 334–363 (1972)
Namba, K., Itagaki, T., Iijima, S.: Enzyme histochemical investigations of human malignant lymphomas. Beitr. Path. 154, 233–242 (1975)
Nakayama, I., Tsuda, N., Muta, H., Fujii, H.: Fine structural comparison of Ewing's sarcoma with neuroblastoma. Acta Path. Jap. 25, 251–268 (1975)
Oberling, C.: Les réticulosarcomes et les réticuloendothéliosarcomes de la moelle osseuse (sarcome d'Ewing). Bull. Ass. FranÇ. Cancer 17, 259–296 (1928)
Paschall, H.A., Paschall, M.M.: Electron microscopic observations of 20 human osteosarcomas. Clin. Orthopaedics Rel. Res. III, 42–56 (1975)
Schajowitz, F.: Ewing's sarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma of bone with special reference to the histochemical demonstration of glycogen as an aid to differential diagnosis. J. Bone Joint Surg. 41 A, 349–356 (1959)
Sirsat, S.M., Panicker, K.N.S., Podtar, G.G.: Ultrastructure of Ewing's sarcoma of the bone. Indian J. Cancer 8, 157–162 (1971)
Takahashi, K., Sato, T., Kojima, M.: Cytological characterization and histogenesis of Ewing's sarcoma. Acta Path. Jap. 26, 167–190 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Povýšil, C., MatĚjovský, Z. Ultrastructure of Ewing's tumour. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 374, 303–316 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432653
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432653