ISSN:
1600-0560
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background: In three cases of chronic scrotal lymphedema, histological and immunohistochemical changes were observed that were strikingly similar to an exceedingly rare lesion reported previously under the name of acquired smooth-muscle hamartoma (ASMH) of the scrotum. The clinical context indicated that the cases were reactive rather than hamartomatous in nature.Materials and methods: The histological and immunohistochemical findings of the three cases were compared to macroscopically normal scrotal specimens obtained during sex reassignment surgery in seven male-to-female transsexuals.Results: Compared to the seven controls, the three cases of chronic scrotal edema revealed a marked increase of dartos smooth-muscle tissue and of connective tissue of the scrotal skin and underlying soft tissues. Still, even the normal amount of scrotal smooth-muscle tissue may easily be misinterpreted as smooth-muscle hyperplasia.Conclusions: Chronic scrotal lymphedema may induce hyperplasia of the dartos muscle, resulting in a histological appearance previously described as ASMH. This indicates that ASMH may not always represent a later onset of abnormality similar to congenital smooth-muscle hamartoma but, rather, may constitute a histological simulator.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0303-6987.2004.00191.x
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