Ribs showing a carcinoma
Object numberGC.2716
TitleRibs showing a carcinoma
DescriptionRibs showing a carcinoma
The preparation is the ventral portions of the fifth to the seventh ribs, showing a secondary carcinoma
From a male aged 44 years who survived the appearance of the tumour six months. Progressive loss of weight for some time before the tumour was observed suggested malignant illness. On post-mortem there was fatty degeneration and diffuse cirrhosis of the liver with degenerative changes in the liver cells which gave an appearance very like malignant epithelial growth. The lungs showed extensive tuberculous disease with tubercle follicles, giant-cell systems and considerable caseation, but no neoplasm.
The tumour on the rib forms a smooth hemispherical mass some 40mm in diameter projecting superficially from the underlying sixth rib, which is fractured following decalcification. On the corresponding deep surface of the thoracic wall the subpeural tissue is irregularly thickened.
The tumour consists of aggregations of cells with a relatively large nucleus and a moderate amount of cytoplasm. There is considerable pleomorphism and normal mitoses. The cells in some places abut on capillaries and this may have suggested the original diagnosis of endothelioma, but against strands of fibrous tissue there is in some parts a palisade arrangement with basally placed nuclei suggesting that the cells are epithelial in origin. In other areas the section shows a real cyst-papillary formation. The diagnosis here is a secondary carcinoma but the origin of this is not obvious - possibly pancreas.
Production date 1884
Production periodNineteeth Century
Object nameBONE, ribs
Object categoryAnatomical, specimen
Dimensions
- Jar Height: 11 cm
Width: 9 cm
Depth: 5 cm