Stereological comparison of smooth muscle, collagen, and elastic fibers of the clitoris and glans penis in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the collagen, elastic fibers, and smooth muscle content of the clitoris and the glans penis in young adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clitoris and the glans penis of six women and six men (mean age 25±3) who died as a result of accidents were excised. The samples were placed under a formaldehyde solution and histologically processed. Masson's trichrome and Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin stain was used to highlight the elastic fibers, smooth muscle, and collagen. Stereological analysis was conducted in 5 random fields of 5 slides for each sample. For statistical analysis, the unpaired t-test was used to compare values between groups, and a value of P<0.05 was considered as significant for all analyses. RESULTS: Stereology revealed a mean smooth muscle content of 35.84±6.46% and 31.64±4.74% for the clitoris and glans penis, respectively, while it also revealed collagen content of 26.11±7.41% and 28.44±3.55% and elastic fibers content of 24.12±4.34% and 30.97±6.13% for the clitoris and glans penis, respectively. The statistical analysis showed no significant differences between them. CONCLUSION: Regardless of anatomical differences, the volumetric density of collagen, elastic fibers, and smooth muscle were similar for the clitoris and glans penis in young adults, a feature possibly explained by their embryology.

Unilateral Renal Haemangiopericytoma: Report of a Rare Tumour

RESUMEN: Los pericitos son células musculares lisas modificadas de los tubos capilares circundantes los cuales cambian el diámetro del lumen vascular. En este artículo relatamos un caso dehemangiopericitoma renal presente en una mujer de 78 años, quien manifestaba dolor abdominal. La ultrasonografía determinó una lesión sólida en la tercera porción del riñón izquierdo. La exploración abdominal de CT reveló una masa tumoral. Debido a la alta sospecha de neoplasia maligna, la paciente fue sometida a nefrectomía radical izquierda. La evaluación histopatológica confirmó el hemangiopericitoma, a través de inmunohistoquímica. La paciente sobrevive cinco años después de la nefrectomía radical.