Soft tissue lesions
Soft tissue lesions strike fear in many pathologists as they are uncommon and may be difficult to diagnose.
Introduction
WHO classification of soft tissue lesions/tumours
Morphologic grouping[1]
- Adipocytic tumours.
- Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumours.
- "Fibrohistiocytic" tumours.
- Smooth muscle tumours.
- Skeletal muscle tumours.
- Vascular tumours.
- Perivascular (pericytic) tumours.
- Chondro-osseous tumours.
- Tumours of uncertain differentiation.
Biologic potential grouping[2]
- Benign.
- Intermediate (locally aggressive).
- Intermediate (rarely metastasizing).
- Malignant.
Prevalence
- All sarcomas are rare buggers.
- As the classification has been changing over the past years (with more subtypes being recognized/identified) numbers are variable from study-to-study.
- Once upon a time almost everything was called malignant fibrous histiocytoma; thus, it is listed as a common entity in some publications.
Most common:[3]
- Liposarcoma.
- Leiomyosarcoma.
Molecular testing
- Molecular testing plays an important role in soft tissue pathology.
- It is generally seen as an adjunct test that:[4]
- Often is used to confirm the histomorphologic impression/quality control.
- Frequently has some prognostic significance.
- May directly affect treatment.
Translocations
- Many tumours in soft tissue pathology are diagnosed inconjunction with the finding of chromosomal translocations.
Histologic patterns
Name | Description | DDx | Image(s) | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|
Storiform, AKA patternless pattern[5] | whorled, cartwheel-like arrangement | pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma, solitary fibrous tumour, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, dermatofibroma[6] | intermed. mag., very high mag. | other ? |
Herring bone | like herring bone (technique) for climbing a hill in cross country skiing; books on a shelf, where they have partially fallen over -- on the one shelf to the left and the one below to the right | fibrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, MPNST | intermed. mag., high mag. | other ? |
Fasicular | the long axis of the (spindle) cells are perpendicular to one another in adjacent bundles of cells | leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma | intermed. mag., high mag. | other ? |
Biphasic | nests of cells and stroma | synovial sarcoma, DSRCT, alveolar RMS | DSRCT - high mag. (WC) | other ? |
Notes:
- Memory device: herring bone DDx MSF = MPNST, Synovial sarcoma, Fibrosarcoma.
Grading
- Several systems exist.
- The US-CAP advocates the use of the French system over the NCI system.
- The French system is a better predictor metastases and mortality.[7]
French system
- Differentiation (score 1-3).
- De facto, this is mostly the histologic type.
- Mitotic rate (score 1-3).
- Necrosis (score 0-2)
Obtaining a score:
- Add all the points from the three components.
Scoring:
- Grade 1 = 2-3.
- Grade 2 = 4-5.
- Grade 3 = 6-8.
Differentiation
- Standardized for histologic types.
- Most tumours = 3/3.
Exceptions:[8]
- Well-differentiated liposarcoma = 1.
- Myxoid liposarcoma = 2.
- Conventional liposarcoma = 2.
- Fibrosarcoma = 2.
- Myxofibrosarcoma =2.
A group of tumours is not graded:[8]
- MPNST.
- Rhabdomyosarcoma.
- Alveolar soft part sarcoma.
- Clear cell sarcoma.
- Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma.
Mitotic rate
- 0-9 mitoses/10 HPF.
- 10-19 mitoses/10 HPF.
- >=20 mitoses/10 HPF.
Notes:
- 1 HPF = 0.1734 mm^2.
- Most resident microscopes have a field of view = 0.2376 mm^2.
- Thus, ~7.3 HPFs on a resident microscope corresponds to 10 US-CAP HPFs.
- Most resident microscopes have a field of view = 0.2376 mm^2.
Necrosis
- None = score 0.
- <=50% of tumour = score 1.
- >50% of tumour = score 2.
System used by some at MSH
Some pathologists at MSH use the system advocated by Costa et al..[9]
Scoring
- Grade 1 = 1 point.
- Grade 2 = 2 points.
- Grade 3 = 3-4 points.
Components
Points for each of the following:
- Mitotic activity >= 6 / 10 HPF @ 40X - definition suffers from HPFitis.
- Pleomorphism present.
- Cellularity (cells/matrix) > 50%.
- Necrosis >15% - microscopic (without targeting necrosis grossly) or grossly.
Adipocytic tumours
This category includes:
- Lipoma.
- Liposarcoma.
- Hibernoma.
Smooth muscle tumours
Leiomyosarcoma
Microscopic
Features (summary):
- Fasicular cellular spindle cell lesion with:
- Nuclear atypia.
- Necrosis.
- High mitotic rate.
Fibrohistiocytic tumours
Pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma
- Abbreviated PUS.
- AKA Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.
- Previously known as malignant fibrous histiocytoma, abbreviated MFH.[10]
General
- Common sarcoma.
- Usu. deep tissue of the trunk and extremities.
- A diagnosis of exclusion[11] / wastebasket for unclassifiable high grade sarcomas.
Microscopic
Features:[12]
- Storiform pattern (AKA patternless pattern) - key feature.
- Marked nuclear pleomorphism key feature.
- Variation is nuclear size, nuclear shape and nuclear staining (esp. hyperchromasia).
- Mitoses - abundant; atypical mitoses common.
- Necrosis (common).
- Mix of spindle cells and epithelioid cells.
Other findings:
- +/-Giant cells (see subclassification).
- +/-Inflammation (see subclassification).
- Neutrophils.
- Eosinophils.
Image:
Subclassification
Pleomorphic sarcoma (PS) is subclassified the following way:[13]
- PS with giant cells.
- PS with inflammation.
- PUS (not otherwise specified) - wastebasket diagnosis; if neither of the above two apply.
Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumours
This is a very large and important group of soft tissue lesions. It is covered in a separate article.
The grouping includes:
- Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour.
- Nodular fasciitis.
- Desmoid-type fibromatosis (Desmoid tumour).
- Proliferative fasciitis.
- Solitary fibrous tumour (Hemangiopericytoma).
- Desmoplastic fibroblastoma.
- Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma.
- Others.
Perivascular tumours
This grouping includes only two:[14]
- Glomus tumour - both benign and malignant.
- Myopericytoma.
Vascular lesions
Vascular lesions are "too red"; they have too many RBCs.
They include:
Skeletal muscle tumours
Rhabdomyoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Abbreviated RMS.
Comes it two main flavours:
- Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
- Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.
The histology may be that of a small round cell tumour.
Chondro-osseous tumours
This grouping includes tumours derived from cartilage and bone.
Tumours of uncertain differentiation
Extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumour
- Essentially identical to renal malignant rhabdoid tumour.[15]
General
- Usu. children < 2 years old.
- Very poor prognosis.
- In the CNS it is known as atypical teratoid-rhabdoid tumour.[15]
Microscopic
Features:[15]
- Variable architecture.
- Round cells.
- Eccentric vesicular nucleus.
- Prominent nucleolus -- key feature.
IHC
- INI1 (SMARCB1) -ve.
- AKA BAF47.
Ewing sarcoma/PNET
- A small round blue cell tumour that may be seen in bone. It is discussed in the context of bone tumours.
Epithelioid sarcoma
General
- Rare.
- Adolescents, young adults.
Subclassification:[16]
- Proximal type:
- More aggressive.
- Distal type:
Microscopic
Features:[17]
- Epithelioid morphology and spindle morphology - which predominates is dependent on location (see subclassification).
- +/-Prominent nucleolus - distinctive feature.
- Zonal necrosis with irregular border.
- Descriptors: "Garland necrosis", necrosis with "scalloped border" = necrotic regions with irregular border.
Subclassification:[16]
- Proximal-type (proximal location):
- More epithelioid.
- Distal-type (distal location):
- More spindled.
- Granuloma-like pattern.
DDx:
- Carcinoma.
- Rheumatoid nodule.
- Granuloma annulare.
IHC
Features:[18]
- INI1 (SMARCB1[19]) -ve.[20]
- Vimentin +ve.
- Various keratins +ve.
- Keratin 8, Keratin 19 +ve.
- 34betaE12 +ve/-ve.
- CD34 +ve.
- Malignant rhabdoid tumour -ve.
Others:
- S100 -ve (r/o melanoma).
Alveolar soft part sarcoma
- Abbreviated ASPS.
General
- Adolescents/young adults.
- Children -- classically location: base of tongue and orbit.
Microscopic
Features:[15]
- Arranged in nest/separated by thin septa; vaguely resembles alveoli (at low power).
- Large cells (~30-50 μm) with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm.
- An eccentric nucleus.
- +/-Nucleolus.
Images:
Molecular
- t(X;17)(p11.2;q25).[21]
Desmoplastic small round cell tumour
- Abbreviated DSRCT.
General
- Males > females.
- Usu. affects young adults.
- Typically retroperitoneal.
- Poor prognosis.
Microscopic
Features:[22]
- Broad bands of paucicellular fibrous stroma with:
- Small round cells in nests with an undulating sharp border.
- The small round cells lack distinct nucleoli and have scant cytoplasm; they are small round cell tumour cells.
Notes:
- Usu. abundant mitoses.
- +/-Necrosis.
Images:
DDx:
- Metastatic germ cell tumour (DDx of location and age).
- Embryonal RMS.
- It should be noted that DSRCT, like embryonal RMS, is +ve for desmin!
- Solid variant of alveolar RMS.
- Nests in alveolar RMS have round edges.
IHC
Features:
- AE1/AE3 +ve.
- Desmin +ve.
- EMA +ve.
- Actin -ve.
- WT1 (N-terminal) -ve.
- WT1 (C-terminal) +ve.
- CD57 +ve.
Molecular
Clear cell sarcoma
- Known among pathologists as "soft-tissue melanoma" and "melanoma of the soft parts", as it has a strong morphological resemblance.[25]
- Molecular changes and origin distinct from melanoma.
- Incidence: rare soft tissue tumour.
Clinical
- Usually - deep soft tissue or extremities.
- Guarded prognosis.
- First described in 1965.[26]
Microscopy
Features:[25]
- Architecture: sheets or fascicular (bundles) arrangement.
- Cells: Spindle cells or epithelioid cells.
- Prominent nucleoli - basophilic - key feature.
- Fibrous septae.
- Uniform.
- +/-Binucleation.
DDx:
- Malignant melanoma.
- PEComa.
- Carcinoma.
Image:
IHC
Features:[25]
- S100 +ve.
- HMB-45 +ve.
- Melan A (MART-1) +ve; sometimes -ve.
- BCL2 +ve.
- CD57 +ve (usually).
Keratins:
- EMA may be +ve.
- CAM5.2 -ve.
- AE1/AE3 -ve.
Molecular studies
- Chromosomal translocation t(12;22)(q13;q12).[25]
- Fusion transcripts:
- EWSR1-ATF1.
- EWSR1-CREB1 (GI tract associated).
- Fusion transcripts:
Synovial sarcoma
General
- Does not arise from cartilage.[15]
- Usually close to a joint.
- Usually distal extremity.
- Young adults or adolescents.
- Poor prognosis.
Microscopic
Comes in three (histologic) flavours:[15][27]
- Spindle cell sarcoma with features of hemangiopericytoma, i.e. staghorn vessels.
- Biphasic synovial sarcoma:
- Spindle cells with features of hemangiopericytoma.
- Epitheliod glands or nests.
- Primitive round cell type.
Features:
- Herring bone or vesicular pattern.
- Spindle cells.
- +/-Glandular component.
DDx:
- MPNST.
- Can be difficult.
Images:
- Monophasic synovial sarcoma with staghorn vessels - intermed. mag. (WC).
- Synovial sarcoma (scielo.br).
- Synovial sarcoma - collection of images (humpath.com).
IHC
Features:[15]
- Vimentin +ve.
- EMA +ve.
- BCL2 +ve.
- CD99 +ve.
Others:
- Beta-catenin +ve ~30-70%.[28]
- Cyclin D1 ~50%.[28][29]
- TLE1 +ve nuclear staining; not specific for synovial sarcoma.[30][31]
Notes:
- Synovial sarcoma & MPNST:
- Both +ve: PGP9.5 (UCHL1[32]), S100, NGFR, CD56, CD99, vimentin.
- Synovial +ve: EMA, keratin, BCL2, TLE1.
- MPNST +ve: nestin, CD34.
Trivia:
- PGP in PGP9.5 = protein gene product.[33]
Molecular pathology
Associated translocation:
- t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2).[34]
- SYT/SSX fusion gene.
Several SSX genes:
- SSX1.
- SSX2 - better survival
- SSX4 - uncommon.
Notes:
- At HSC t(X,18) = synovial sarcoma.
Other
Granulocytic sarcoma
- Common alternate terms: myeloid sarcoma, chloroma.
- Other terms:[35] myeloblastoma, chloromyeloma, chloromyelosarcoma, granulocytic leukosarcoma, or myelosarcoma.
General
- Soft tissue manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia.[35]
Microscopic
Features:
- Cluster of atypical small blue cells in soft tissue.
Note:
- May mimic small cell carcinoma, large cell lymphomas (DLBCL, ALCL), small round cell tumours.
Images:
See also
- Bone.
- Dermatopathology.
- Hematopathology.
- Spindle cell lesion.
- Neurofibromatosis.
- Small round cell tumours.
References
- ↑ Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 601-3. ISBN 978-0781765275.
- ↑ Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 598-604. ISBN 978-0781765275.
- ↑ Skubitz KM, D'Adamo DR (November 2007). "Sarcoma". Mayo Clin. Proc. 82 (11): 1409–32. PMID 17976362. http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/82/11/1409.long.
- ↑ Fletcher CD, Fletcher JA, Dal Cin P, Ladanyi M, Woodruff JM (July 2001). "Diagnostic gold standard for soft tissue tumours: morphology or molecular genetics?". Histopathology 39 (1): 100–3. PMID 11454050.
- ↑ Mangano WE, Cagle PT, Churg A, Vollmer RT, Roggli VL (August 1998). "The diagnosis of desmoplastic malignant mesothelioma and its distinction from fibrous pleurisy: a histologic and immunohistochemical analysis of 31 cases including p53 immunostaining". Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 110 (2): 191–9. PMID 9704618.
- ↑ Meister P, Höhne N, Konrad E, Eder M (July 1979). "Fibrous histiocytoma: an analysis of the storiform pattern". Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histol 383 (1): 31–41. PMID 224569.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Guillou L, Coindre JM, Bonichon F, et al. (January 1997). "Comparative study of the National Cancer Institute and French Federation of Cancer Centers Sarcoma Group grading systems in a population of 410 adult patients with soft tissue sarcoma". J. Clin. Oncol. 15 (1): 350–62. PMID 8996162.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 URL: http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/committees/cancer/cancer_protocols/2011/SoftTissue_11protocol.pdf. Accessed on: 12 April 2011.
- ↑ Costa J, Wesley RA, Glatstein E, Rosenberg SA (February 1984). "The grading of soft tissue sarcomas. Results of a clinicohistopathologic correlation in a series of 163 cases". Cancer 53 (3): 530–41. PMID 6692258.
- ↑ URL: http://sarcomahelp.org/learning_center/mfh.html. Accessed on: 8 April 2011.
- ↑ Matushansky I, Charytonowicz E, Mills J, Siddiqi S, Hricik T, Cordon-Cardo C (August 2009). "MFH classification: differentiating undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in the 21st Century". Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 9 (8): 1135–44. doi:10.1586/era.09.76. PMC 3000413. PMID 19671033. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3000413/.
- ↑ Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 613. ISBN 978-0781765275.
- ↑ Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 613-4. ISBN 978-0781765275.
- ↑ Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 602. ISBN 978-0781765275.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 627. ISBN 978-0781765275.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Guillou L, Wadden C, Coindre JM, Krausz T, Fletcher CD (February 1997). ""Proximal-type" epithelioid sarcoma, a distinctive aggressive neoplasm showing rhabdoid features. Clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of a series". Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 21 (2): 130–46. PMID 9042279.
- ↑ The International Agency for Research on Cancer (Editors: Fletcher, C.D.M.; Unni, K. Krishnan; Mertens, F.) (2006). Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of Soft Tissue and Bone (IARC WHO Classification of Tumours) (3rd ed.). World Health Organization. pp. 205. ISBN 978-9283224136.
- ↑ Miettinen M, Fanburg-Smith JC, Virolainen M, Shmookler BM, Fetsch JF (August 1999). "Epithelioid sarcoma: an immunohistochemical analysis of 112 classical and variant cases and a discussion of the differential diagnosis". Hum. Pathol. 30 (8): 934–42. PMID 10452506.
- ↑ Online 'Mendelian Inheritance in Man' (OMIM) 601607
- ↑ Mentzel T (March 2010). "[Epithelioid sarcoma: morphologic variants and differential diagnosis]" (in German). Pathologe 31 (2): 135–41. doi:10.1007/s00292-009-1250-0. PMID 19997734.
- ↑ Online 'Mendelian Inheritance in Man' (OMIM) 606243
- ↑ Pickhardt PJ, Fisher AJ, Balfe DM, Dehner LP, Huettner PC (March 1999). "Desmoplastic small round cell tumor of the abdomen: radiologic-histopathologic correlation". Radiology 210 (3): 633–8. PMID 10207460. http://radiology.rsna.org/content/210/3/633.full.
- ↑ Lee YS, Hsiao CH (October 2007). "Desmoplastic small round cell tumor: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and molecular study of four patients". J. Formos. Med. Assoc. 106 (10): 854–60. doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60051-0. PMID 17964965.
- ↑ Lal DR, Su WT, Wolden SL, Loh KC, Modak S, La Quaglia MP (January 2005). "Results of multimodal treatment for desmoplastic small round cell tumors". J. Pediatr. Surg. 40 (1): 251–5. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2004.09.046. PMID 15868593. http://www.dsrct.com/JPS%20Article.pdf.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Hisaoka M, Ishida T, Kuo TT, et al. (March 2008). "Clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular analysis of 33 cases". Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 32 (3): 452–60. doi:10.1097/PAS.0b013e31814b18fb. PMID 18300804.
- ↑ URL: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/723576818-750600/ftinterface~db=all~content=a789166263~fulltext=713240928. Accessed on: 5 May 2010.
- ↑ Schaal CH, Navarro FC, Moraes Neto FA (2004). "Primary renal sarcoma with morphologic and immunohistochemical aspects compatible with synovial sarcoma". Int Braz J Urol 30 (3): 210–3. PMID 15689250. http://www.brazjurol.com.br/may_june_2004/Schaal_ing_210_213.htm.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Horvai AE, Kramer MJ, O'Donnell R (June 2006). "Beta-catenin nuclear expression correlates with cyclin D1 expression in primary and metastatic synovial sarcoma: a tissue microarray study". Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 130 (6): 792–8. PMID 16740029.
- ↑ Ng TL, Gown AM, Barry TS, et al. (January 2005). "Nuclear beta-catenin in mesenchymal tumors". Mod. Pathol. 18 (1): 68–74. doi:10.1038/modpathol.3800272. PMID 15375433.
- ↑ Kosemehmetoglu K, Vrana JA, Folpe AL (July 2009). "TLE1 expression is not specific for synovial sarcoma: a whole section study of 163 soft tissue and bone neoplasms". Mod. Pathol. 22 (7): 872–8. doi:10.1038/modpathol.2009.47. PMID 19363472. http://www.nature.com/modpathol/journal/v22/n7/full/modpathol200947a.html.
- ↑ Seo SW, Lee H, Lee HI, Kim HS (February 2011). "The role of TLE1 in synovial sarcoma". J Orthop Res. doi:10.1002/jor.21318. PMID 21319215.
- ↑ Online 'Mendelian Inheritance in Man' (OMIM) 191342
- ↑ Doran, JF.; Jackson, P.; Kynoch, PA.; Thompson, RJ. (Jun 1983). "Isolation of PGP 9.5, a new human neurone-specific protein detected by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis.". J Neurochem 40 (6): 1542-7. PMID 6343558.
- ↑ URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim/300813. Accessed on: 30 May 2010.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Eom, KS.; Kim, TY. (Mar 2011). "Intraparenchymal myeloid sarcoma and subsequent spinal myeloid sarcoma for acute myeloblastic leukemia.". J Korean Neurosurg Soc 49 (3): 171-4. doi:10.3340/jkns.2011.49.3.171. PMC 3085814. PMID 21556238. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3085814/.