Fourth scientific report on the investigations of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund / by E.F. Bashford.

Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Fourth scientific report on the investigations of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund / by E.F. Bashford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/322 (page 5)
    can now be extended to tumours of other organs than the mamma whenever necessary. Thereby the whole superstructure is laid upon wider foundations. These tumours can be chosen for discussion when wanted instead of the mammary tumours, the true malignant character of which some authors have tried to contest on quite inadequate evidence. Of the 353 tumours of the present material, 311 presented the structure of mammary adeno-carcinomata ranging from adenomata to solid carci- nomata. Twenty-two were squamous-celled carcinomata with marked keratinisation ; of these, 14 arose in the mammary region, 8 entirely outside it (jaw, face, vulva, and anus). Five were sebaceous carcino- mata, and of these 3 arose in the mammary region, 2 outside it (anus). The rest of the tumours observed were :— 2 Carcinomata of the preputial gland. 2 Adeno-carcinomata of the kidney (1 a hypernephroma ?). 2 Do. do. ovary. 6 Sarcomata, 4 spindle celled, 1 round celled, 1 polymorphous celled. 1 Spontaneous “ mixed ” tumour. 1 Melanoma. 1 Fibro-myoma uteri. (Not included in the above figures are 30 lung adenomata observed in 19 mice and 21 cases of lymphomatous tumours.) The total number of tumours with a structure different from that of the mammary tumours is 42, of which 25 have with certainty arisen outside the mammary apparatus. When lung tumours and lymphomata are excluded, 90 per cent., roughly speaking, of all the tumours in the present material are adeno-carcinomata of the mamma. This enormous prevalence of tumours of the mamma is one of the striking peculiarities of the mouse tumours and has long been recognised. Apart from the mammary tumours, the adenomatous nodules in the lungs are the most frequent. However, it has been decided not to include them in the above figures; their exact number can only be ascertained by a systematic examination of the lungs of every mouse in serial sections, and this has not been feasible up to the present. In a large proportion of cases they are undoubtedly tumours, and some show the malignant mode of growth. In other cases their exact nature is uncertain. For similar reasons the lymphomatous tumours have not been included. Their exact category is somewhat doubtful, i. e. whether all are tumours or, in some instances, are hyperplastic conditions of the pre-existing lymphoid tissue.