title: [Cellular differentiation in storiform-pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytomas. An electron microscopic study of histogenesis].
abstract: The most common form of malignant fibrous histiocytoma is the storiform-pleomorphic subtype composed of spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cells, mononucleated histiocytic elements and a changing amount of pleomorphic giant cells. In relation to the changing cellular structures 14 pleomorphic-storiform malignant fibrous histiocytomas were investigated electronmicroscopically. In all tumors several types of cells varying in shape, and size as well as in organelle composition could be demonstrated: 1. Undifferentiated cells, which are relatively small and have a scanty cytoplasm with few organelles. 2. Fibroblast-like cells with well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, mostly arranged in a storiform pattern. 3. Myofibroblasts corresponding to fibroblasts and showing bundles of thin filaments (4 to 6 nm) with focal dense bodies in the peripheral area of the cytoplasm. 4. Histiocyte-like cells characterized by filopodia-like projections and abundant cytoplasm containing lysosomes and phagolysosomes and also lipid droplets. 5. Chimeric cells, which are intermediate forms with features of fibroblast-like and histiocyte-like tumor cells. 6. Multinucleated tumor giant cells which can be subdivided into fibroblast-like and histiocyte-like types and intermediate forms. On the basis of our ultrastructural studies the storiform pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma is interpreted as a tumor of an undifferentiated mesenchymal cell with the potency of fibroblastic or histiocytic differentiation. The origin of this cell is uncertain. Dedifferentiation of a differentiated connective tissue cell (fibroblast, pericyte) into a proliferating undifferentiated precursor cell is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologische Anatomie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle, Wittenberg, DDR.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Holzhausen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stiller
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000209:etiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
vernacular_title: Zelluläre Differenzierungen in storiform-pleomorphen malignen fibrösen Histiozytomen. Eine elektronenmikroskopische Studie zur Histogenese.