Smooth-Muscle Tumors of the Skin

Abstract

Smooth-muscle tumors of the skin occur infrequently. We wish to report a series of 33 cases in which such lesions were present. This group is divided into 23 cases of leiomyoma cutis; 8 cases of angiomyoma; 1 case of nodular, or so-called dartoic, myoma, and 1 case of leiomyosarcoma. The occurrence of only one example of nodular, or dartoic, myoma in this series can be explained on the basis that such tumors arise from special rows of smooth-muscle cells in the scrotum, nipple, and external genitalia deep in the subcutaneous tissue and, therefore, are seen primarily by the surgeon for excision. We have been especially interested in this study in regard to why some myomas are painful and some are not. Particular attention was given to use of histochemical techniques to differentiate myomatous tissue from other mesodermal tissues. Survey of Literature It is not our purpose