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Article
December 1982

Ovoid Bodies in Choroidal Neurofibromatosis

Author Affiliations

From the Department of Ophthalmology, Niigata (Japan) University School of Medicine.

Arch Ophthalmol. 1982;100(12):1939-1941. doi:10.1001/archopht.1982.01030040919010
Abstract

• We studied the ultrastructure of the ovoid bodies in choroidal neurofibromatosis. Ovoid bodies consisted of groups of the same kind of elongated cells arranged in lamellar patterns. The elongated cell was characterized by a fragmented circumferential basal lamina, groups of pinocytotic vesicles, a desmosomelike intercellular contact, and intimate contact with axons. These findings suggest that elongated cells are proliferated Schwann's cells and ovoid bodies do not correspond with real sensory nerve end organs; rather, they are enlarged peripheral nerves due to neoplastic hyperplasia of Schwann's cells around axons.

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