Fine structure of a glomus tumor of the tongue and expression of C type virus in its tumor cells.

A glomus tumor in the tongue of a 29-year-old Japanese male is presented. Ultrastructural examination demonstrated this tumor to be composed of the tumor cells having structural features in common with smooth muscle cells, and mast cells as the less frequent type cell. Moreover, a small number of C type virus particles were found to be in the cytoplasm or in the intercellular spaces. In this communication, besides the detailed description of the morphology of the glomus tumor, the possible involvement of C type virus in processes of tumor formation is discussed.