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(Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 1972;11:873-889.)
© 1972 by The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

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Ultrastructural Comparison of Spindle A, Spindle B, and Epithelioid-Type Cells in Uveal Malignant Melanoma

TAKEO IWAMOTO 1, IRA SNOW JONES 1, and GEORGE M. HOWARD 1

1 Department of Ophthalmology, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, 635 W. 165th St., New York, N.Y. 10032.

Eight cases of uveal malignant melanoma were studied with the electron microscope with the purpose of comparing the ultrastructural features of the three basic cell types (spindle A, spindle B, and epithelioid) originally described by Callender under the light microscope. Five of the eight tumors were of pure cell type, and three were mixed. This was undertaken because of earlier diverse opinions regarding the ultrastructure of those cell types based mainly on studies of spindle B, epithelioid and mixed-type melanomas. In the five melanomas of pure cell type (one spindle A, two spindle B, and two epithelioid), the following tendencies characterizing each cell type were found: The size and the degree of reticulation of nucleoli and the number of free ribosomes and mitochondria increased from spindle A to spindle B and epithelioid cells, while rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum was most prominent in the spindle B type. On the other hand, cytoplasmic filaments decreased in the same order. There were also other minor differences. The ultrastructural details of these are described and their significance is discussed. Judging from the behavior of nucleoli and free ribosomes, the results were consistent with the present consensus that the cellular malignancy increases from spindle A through spindle B to epithelioid-type cells. In mixed-type melanomas, the cellular features were often more complicated because of structural variations and the presence of cells which could be regarded as intermediates.

Key Words: ultrastructure • uveal tract • malignant melanoma • pathology • neoplasm • cell types • nucleolus

Submitted on August 24, 1972
Accepted on September 15, 1972




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S. Iwamoto, R. C. Burrows, R. E. Kalina, D. George, M. Boehm, M. A. Bothwell, and R. Schmidt
Immunophenotypic Differences Between Uveal and Cutaneous Melanomas
Arch Ophthalmol, April 1, 2002; 120(4): 466 - 470.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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