Endothelial and epithelial-like cell formations in a case of posterior polymorphous dystrophy.
Histology of the endothelial and epithelial-like cells, vesicles, and membranes seen on the posterior corneal surface in posterior polymorphous dystrophy were examined by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy in a 3-month-old female infant. The entire posterior surface of both corneas was covered by a geographic pattern of endothelial and epithelial-like cells, sometimes creating vesicles and sometimes creating partially detached sheets of cells. The thickness of Descemet's membrane varied widely, showing a tendency to be most complete under the remaining endothelial cells and thinner or absent under the epithelial-like cells. Details of this histology have important implications for our understanding of congenital diseases of corneal endothelium.
D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000473:pathology*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning