FIBROMA OF TENDON SHEATH - A LIGHT AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF 6 CASES

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 92  (6) , 401-409
Abstract
The clinical picture, the light microscopic and EM appearance, and the histochemical findings are described in 6 cases of fibroma of tendon sheath. The ages at onset for the 4 men and 2 women were 16-54 yr. The lesions were well circumscribed, rounded or oval, and had a diameter of .apprx. 1 cm. Light-microscopically the lesions consisted of a dense fibrocollagenous tissue with a variable degree of collagenization and cellularity, the peripheral zone often being most cellular and containing slit-like vascular spaces. By EM 2 main cell types were identified: myofibroblasts and fibroblasts the former dominating in cellular areas, the latter dominating in collagenized areas. Histochemical analysis indicated the presence of sulfated glucosaminoglycans within the collagenous matrix. Immunoperoxidase staining for factor VII-related antigen gave prominence to the endothelium of capillary-like blood vessels. The differential diagnosis against giant cell tumor of tendon sheath is discussed. The observations indicate that fibroma of tendon sheath is a distinct entity of probable reactive, non-neoplastic nature.