We have already described several forms of new-formation of lymphatic tissue, some of which attain to the dignity of actual tumours, and are designated lymphoma or lymphadenoma. There is the leukemic lymphoma, and the malignant lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease, all of which partake of the character of infective processes.

Of the tumours proper, with the exception of sarcoma, the primary forms are rare but the secondary frequent. The Myxoma is sometimes primary, and the Chondroma has been observed as a secondary tumour.

In a case recorded by Virchow a chondroma occurred in the axillary glands in connection with a primary tumour of the scapula, and in one by Paget in the glands of the groin in a case of chondroma of the testis.

The most important form of sarcoma of the lymphatic glands is the Lympho-sarcoma, which is of comparatively frequent occurrence in the mediastinum, but is also met with in the abdomen.

Sarcoma occurs primarily as a hard or soft tumour. The harder form is rare and is usually a fibro-sarcoma. The soft form may be a spindle-celled tumour, but is more frequently round-celled. It may be an alveolar sarcoma. The commoner round-celled sarcoma resembles in structure the lymphoma and is liable to be mistaken for it, but it does not present the tendency to spread from gland to gland, and in its metastasis does not affect the lymphatic system specially. The tumours usually grow rapidly and form large fungating masses. Secondary growths frequently form in the lungs. These tumours originate chiefly from the retroperitoneal, mediastinal, and bronchial glands. In the alveolar form the new-formation occurs chiefly in the adventitia of the vessels.

Sarcoma does not readily occur secondarily in the lymphatic glands, but according to Butlin it does so more frequently than is usually stated. Sarcomas of the foot, tonsils, testicles, and probably the kidney, are liable to affect the lymphatic glands secondarily. The pigmented and softer forms of sarcoma are more likely to affect the glands.

Cancer does not occur as a primary growth in the lymphatic glands but is very frequent as a secondary affection. Cancerous tumours by their irritation may lead to a simple inflammatory enlargement, but, even in those which are very slightly enlarged, there are usually cancerous developments detectable by the microscope. (See further under Cancer).

Literature

Structure - Recklinghausen, Strieker's Histology, Syd. Soc. trans., vol. i.; Flemmiko, Arch. f. mikrosc. Anat., xxiv.; Arnold, Virch. Arch., xciii. and xcv.; Baumgarten, Zeitschr. f. klin. Med., ix., 1885. Pigmentation - Virchow, Cellular Path.; Orth (Absorption of blood), Virch. Arch., lxi., 269; Muller, Lymphdrusen bei Resorp. von Blutextrav., 1879. Tuberculosis - Schuppel, Unter-such. uber Lymphdriisentuberkulose, 1871; Koster, Virch. Arch., xlviii., 95; Fkikdlander, Ueber locale Tuberculose, Volkmann's Vortr., No. 49; Koch, Etiology of tuberculosis in Micro-parasites in Disease (Syd. Soc. trans.), 1886, p. 120. Syphilis - Lanceheaux., Traite de la Syph., pp. 147 and 168; Birch-Hirschfeld, Lehrb. d. Path.Anat., 3rd ed., 1887, ii., 153. Tumours - Virchow, Virch. Arch., v., 2, 30; Paget, Med. chir. trans., xxxviii.; Puttiata (Sarcomas), Virch. Arch., lxix., 245; Butlin, Internat. Encycl. of Surg., 1884, iv., 600. Degenerations - Virchow (Amyloid dis.), Wtirzb. Verhandl., vii., 222; Eberth, Virch. Arch., lxxx.; Cornil et Banvier (Colloid) Histol. path., 2nd ed., 1881, i., 650; Wieger (Hyaline), Virch. Arch., lxxx., 138.