Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the skin with marked inflammatory infiltrate: a sarcoma mimicking malignant lymphoma

Am J Dermatopathol. 2002 Jun;24(3):251-6. doi: 10.1097/00000372-200206000-00011.

Abstract

Three cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the skin with a marked inflammatory infiltrate in the stroma are reported. The inflammatory infiltrate, composed mainly of T-lymphocytes, obscured the nature of the neoplasms, and immunohistochemical studies were required to establish the diagnosis. Two tumors arose in the sun-damaged skin of the face, and one tumor arose in the chest wall. One patient developed a local recurrence with histopathologic findings similar to those observed in the original lesion, including the inflammatory infiltrate. Possible differential diagnoses include large cell lymphoma, inflammatory pseudotumor, inflammatory leiomyosarcoma, and spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma. The presumed rarity of inflammatory changes in malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the skin is supported by the absence of reported cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
  • Cytoplasm / ultrastructure
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / metabolism
  • Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma / pathology*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Sarcoma / metabolism
  • Sarcoma / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Neoplasm Proteins