ATYPICAL FIBROXANTHOMA: CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL REVIEW

  • Ana Marta António Interna da Formação Específica em Dermatovenereologia/Resident Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatovenereologia, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
  • João Alves Interno da Formação Específica em Dermatovenereologia/Resident Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatovenereologia, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
  • Diogo Matos Interno da Formação Específica em Dermatovenereologia/Resident Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatovenereologia, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
  • João Goulão Assistente Hospitalar de Dermatovenereologia/Consultant Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatovenereologia, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
  • Elvira Bártolo Chefe de Serviço de Dermatovenereologia/ Consultant Chief Dermatology and Venereology, Diretora do Serviço de Dermatovenereologia/Head of Dermatology and Venereology Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
Keywords: Atypical fibroxanthoma, Histiocytoma, malignant fibrous

Abstract

Introduction: Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is a rare cutaneous tumor without a completely defined histogenesis which frequently develops on head and neck of elderly people. Its diagnosis is histological, of exclusion with other tumors with identical morphology. Despite its classical benign behavior some rare cases reporting distant metastasis classified it on intermediate malignancy.

Material and methods: We preformed a retrospective analysis with purpose of reviewing the AFX diagnosis made in our department between 2008 and 2014. We analyzed demographic, clinical, histological and immunohistochemical data and also surgical treatment and recurrence.

Results: We obtained 12 cases of AFX, 11 males and 1 female, the youngest was 25 years old and the others had a median age of 76 years. The lesions were nodules or tumors with 1.9cm median size, all of them located on the head. Histology revealed well defined lesions with atypical pleomorphic cells and frequent solar elastosis, classified as mix variant (spindle and histiocytic cells) in all cases. Immunohistochemical study showed positivity for vimentin and negativity for cytokeratins and S100 protein in all cases and CD10 and CD99 were frequently positive. Surgical excision was performed in 10 cases with 10% rate of recurrence during 3 years of median follow-up.

Conclusions: These results were similar with other published series. This tumor is clinically unspecified and histologically undifferentiated and so immunohistochemistry is essential for diagnosis, however, for now, available makers are not sufficiently specific. Despite its good prognosis in most cases clinical surveillance is recommended.

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Published
2015-06-06
How to Cite
António, A. M., Alves, J., Matos, D., Goulão, J., & Bártolo, E. (2015). ATYPICAL FIBROXANTHOMA: CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL REVIEW. Journal of the Portuguese Society of Dermatology and Venereology, 73(1), 71-77. https://doi.org/10.29021/spdv.73.1.345
Section
Original Articles