Tactile-like corpuscles in neurofibroma tissues were examined by the indirect immunoperoxidase method using rabbit anti-S-100 sera. In all five cases examined, positive staining was observed in their constituent cells, both in the flattened cytoplasm and nuclei. On examination of the normal peripheral nervous system, positive staining was exclusively confined to Schwann cells in the nerve bundles and Schwann-related cells such as lamellar cells in the Meissner corpuscle, whereas staining was negative in perineurial cells. Electron-microscopic examination showed ultrastructural similarity between constituent cells of the tactile-like corpuscles in neurofibroma and lamellar cells in the Meissner corpuscle. These findings may indicate Schwannian nature of the tactile-like corpuscles.

We report on 4 cases of brain tumors associated with tuberous sclerosis. In each case the tumor was in the region of Monro’s feramen and was associated with ventricular dilatation. Computer tomography scans, which were performed in 3 cases, revealed well-circumscribed high-density masses which were markedly enhanced by contrast medium. 3 patients underwent craniotomy. Total extirpation was performed in 2 patients. Both of them are doing well postoperatively. However, 1 patient whose tumor had been partially resected died of recurrence 6 years after surgery. The pathology of three tumors was different in each case: plump cell astrocytoma, hemangioma and astroblastoma.

No abstract

✓ A case is reported in which a myxoosteochondroma of the pons was successfully removed subtotally.

CLINICAL DATAA girl aged 4 years and 7 months was admitted to the Niigata University Hospital on Jan. 13, 1956. Her 2 sibs died of dyspepsia in early infancy and otherwise her family history was noncontributory. The delivery was uneventful, the body weighing 4125 g. at that time. The beginning of sitting up and walking was timely. Thereafter her physical and mental development was gradually retarded, and she could not speak even at the age of 4 years. In the meanwhile, lumbal kyphosis of the spine was noticed. She was diagnosed as rickets by a certain doctor, and in spite of gips application the deformity was not improved.On admission she was 87.5 cm. (normal : 96.7) in height and 14 kg. (normal : 16.5) in weight. The intelligence was not so high as that of a one-year-child (idocy). The skull was slightly box-like, measuring 48 cm. (normal: 48.6) in circumference. The face was grotesque ; the malar bones prominent, the eyes set apart, and the mouth opened with enlarged lips and tongue. Opacities of the cornea and hypertrichiosis of the head and trunk were also present. The neck was short. The breast had a funnel shape deformity but no rosary. The heart was enlarged to the left. The lungs showed nothing abnormal. The abdomen was protuberant with umbilical hernia. The liver and the spleen were palpable 3 and 1 finger breadths respectively below the costal margin. The extremities were short and thick and limited in their motilities to some extent. The clawhand was present bilaterally. The rontgenogram revealed a spatulalike appearance of the ribs and a beak-like deformity of the 1st. and 2nd. lumbal vertebrae. The sella turcica was elongated but flat. The tuberculin test and the serum Wassermann negative. The blood study disclosed 4.05 million red cells, 86% hemoglobin, and 6,600 white cells. Reilly's granulations were absent in leukocytes. The urine examination showed nothing abnormal. The serum examination disclosed that total protein was 6.11 g./dl., calcium 9.5 mg./dl. and phosphorus 3.8 mg./dl. As a result of the liver function tests, T.T.T. was 6.7 M. u., C.C.F. (it), Gros (ti.), and cholin-esterase A p H 1.02. The splinal fluid was clear and colorless, containing 6 lymphocytes per cmm. ; the pressure was 500mm. water. Nonne (-). Pandy (-). C1 463, NaCl 763, and glucose 86 mg./dl. Her parents were cousins and had 7 children. Directed by T. ITO and S. FUJIMAKI (Prof. of Pathology).