The multiple nodules
of this benign smooth muscle tumor are readily apparent in this scan of the
tissue. Be sure to look for a capsule and observe the whirl-like and
interlacing quality of the clusters of cells.
The picture pretty
well says it all. You should look at this slide on a white or lighted background
first to find the area of the tumor. This is a benign smooth muscle tumor
and microscopically the cells are essentially identical to their "normal"
counterparts in the surrounding myometrium. Look for the blunted ends of
the elongated nuclei to distinguish these cells from fibroblasts. There should
be no mitotic figures and no significant nuclear atypia.
