Tumour of Wagner-Meissner touch corpuscles*

Summary Two benign tumours composed mainly or exclusively of Wagner-Meissner corpuscles are described. In the first case the touch corpuscles are composed of closely piled laminar cells and surrounded by argyrophilic fibres. In the second case some Schwann cells are observed in between the tactile corpuscles. The light microscopic, electron-microscopic and immunohistochemical results demonstrate that these corpuscles are comparable with the tactile end organs of the skin. Immunohistochemically, neuron-specific enolase, vimentin and protein S-100 could be demonstrated in the tactile corpuscles. Neural processes present in normal Meissner corpuscles are absent and immunohistochemically no nerve fibres or nerve endings can be demonstrated using antibodies to neurofilaments as they are observed in normal touch corpuscles of the skin.Tumours which consist mainly of multiple touch corpuscles have not been described in the literature. It is suggested to call these tumours Wagner-Meissner neurilemmoma.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. K. Lennert in honor of his 65th birthday