[Electron microscopic study of transitional mucosa adjacent to colonic cancer, with special reference to stromal...

Electron microscopic study of the "transitional" vicinal to colon carcinoma mucosa was carried out in 10 cases. Disturbance of the process of maturation of the epithelial cells i.e. increased differentiation of goblet cells and delayed maturation of absorptive cells was revealed. These data seem to correlate with those reported in the literature. Absence of the pericryptal fibroblast layer observed seems to explain extension and enlargement of crypts. Electronmicroscopic pattern of myofibroblasts of tunica propria indicates an intensified fiber formation. Based on the literary data theories explaining the function of myoblasts (contraction, embryonal formation of collagen fibers, aspecific stroma reaction) are reviewed. It is believed that the last two processes may take place in the transitional colonic mucosa.