Acral myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma in a renal transplant patient: a case report

Acral myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma with hybrid features of hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor occurring 10 years after renal transplantation

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma is a rare malignant soft tissue neoplasm that typically arises on the distal extremities of adults. It usually behaves in a low-grade manner and its characteristic histology is of a lobulated proliferation of moderately atypical spindled to epithelioid cells, vacuolated cells, and enlarged or bizarre cells with prominent nucleoli, dispersed within myxoid stroma containing a mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate. The etiology of myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma remains unknown with no definite causal factors identified. We describe a case of myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma arising in the foot of a 77-year-old female, which rapidly recurred locally after initial excision and which arose 10 years after renal transplantation. The neoplasm also showed intermingled areas of hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor. The patient also had multifocal areas of squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the foot and hand, in keeping with the clinical context of immune deficiency. This is the second case of myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma reported to occur after transplantation, but additionally shows hybrid features of hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor, highlights immunocompromise/immunosuppressive therapy as a possible etiologic factor in their development, and adds to the growing number of myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma that has demonstrated aggressive behavior.

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma of the scalp: aggressive behavior at a rare, nonextremity site

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS) is a rare low-grade malignant soft tissue neoplasm, which usually presents on the distal extremities of adults and sometimes children. It has a characteristic appearance, of a lobulated or multinodular neoplasm of moderately atypical epithelioid or spindled cells, vacuolated cells, and enlarged or bizarre cells with macronuclei, with prominent mixed inflammatory infiltrate, and variably myxoid stroma. However, the proportions of each component vary, making diagnosis difficult, particularly when tumors arise at unusual nonextremity sites. We describe a case of MIFS occurring as a primary neoplasm on the scalp of an 80-year-old male, which recurred locally after 2 years and developed extensive bilateral cervical lymph node metastases. MIFS is exceptionally rare in the head and neck, and it has been described only once on the scalp. This case showed classical histologic features, and additionally a high mitotic index and atypical mitoses, which may be suggestive of a poorer prognosis. This case highlights the need to consider MIFS in the differential diagnoses of pleomorphic tumors of the head and neck, and it adds to the small number of MIFS showing highly aggressive behavior.

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma: morphologic and genetic updates

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS) is a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm most frequently arising in the distal extremities of adults, which usually behaves in a low-grade manner but is capable of metastasizing to local and distant sites, rarely leading to death. It is a rare tumor whose unusual morphology can lead to erroneous histologic diagnosis, either as a nonneoplastic (infectious or inflammatory) process or as a variety of neoplastic diseases. While its exact origin is uncertain, ultrastructural studies have shown at least some of the constituent cells to be modified fibroblasts. Distinct and reproducible genetic abnormalities identified in MIFS are translocation t(1;10)(p22:q24), with rearrangements of the TGFBR3 and MGEA5 genes associated with increased levels of FGF8, and formation of marker/ring chromosome 3, with amplification of the VGLL3 locus. Because these genetic abnormalities are shared by both MIFS and hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumor, it is thought that these 2 morphologically distinct neoplasms may comprise a spectrum of disease defined by these genetics. We review the literature on MIFS and discuss morphology (including that of MIFS/hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumor hybrid lesions), immunohistochemistry, the differential diagnosis, and recent molecular genetic developments.

Acral myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma: A case report and literature review

Acral myxoinflammatory fibroplastic sarcoma is an extremely rare soft-tissue sarcoma. It typically presents as an inflammatory mass in the distal extremities of adult patients. The authors present a review of the available literature as well as a discussion on the surgical management of a patient with acral myxoinflammatory fibroplastic sarcoma who originally requested conservative management but ultimately required a two-digit ray amputation after local recurrence.

A case of lung metastasis in myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma: analytical review of one hundred and thirty eight cases

PURPOSE

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS) is a rare soft tissue tumour first identified at the end of the 1990s. This study presents our experience and literature reviews focusing on risk of recurrence.

METHODS

Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute database and literature were searched for patients with MIFS observed from 1997 to 2012. Data were analysed in a new database.

RESULTS

Five patients underwent surgery at our institute, and 133 cases were retrieved from the literature. Not all clinicopathological data were available: 76/138 were men (55%), median age was 45 [interquartile range (IQR) 34-56] years, median tumour size was three (IQR two to five) centimetres. Common sites of occurrence were hand (24%), fingers (23%) and foot (20%). Pain was present at diagnosis in 14/82 patients (17%), with a median duration of seven (IQR three to 12) months. Surgery was performed for a suspected benign tumour in 88 patients (74%). Resection was incomplete in 45/71 cases (63%); re-excision was performed in 32/45 (71%). At a median follow-up of 26 months, 26/118 patients (22%) developed recurrent disease; median time to recurrence was 15 months (IQR seven to 26). Actuarial relapse-free survival (RFS) at one, three and five years was 93%, 72% and 67%, respectively. At univariate analysis, only symptom duration of six months or less was significantly associated with a worse RFS (p = 0.046). Metastatic disease to lymph nodes and/or lungs was observed in four patients (3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicopathological findings confirm the low-grade nature of MIFS. However, local recurrence occurs, and patients may be affected by aggressive forms with a potential for distant metastases. Follow-up is strongly advised.

Sarcomas other than Kaposi sarcoma occurring in immunodeficiency: interpretations from a systematic literature review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In immunodeficiency, an increased sarcoma risk is confirmed for Kaposi's sarcoma. Whether rates of other sarcoma subtypes are elevated in the setting of immunodeficiency is not known. We therefore reviewed published case reports on HIV and AIDS patients and organ transplant recipients with sarcomas. For comparison, we assessed sarcomas in the U.S. general population using Surveillance Epidemiology End Results (SEER) data.

RECENT FINDINGS

A total of 176 non-Kaposi sarcoma were identified, 75 in people with HIV and AIDS and 101 in transplant recipients. Leiomyosarcomas (n = 101) were the most frequently reported sarcomas, followed by angiosarcomas (n = 23) and fibrohistiocytic tumors (n = 17). Leiomyosarcomas were reported with two age peaks, in children and young adults. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was detected in the tumor cells in 85 and 88% of leiomyosarcomas in HIV-infected people and transplant recipients, respectively. Angiosarcomas and fibrohistiocytic tumors were most frequently reported in men. Among kidney transplant recipients, 20% of sarcomas arose at the site of an arteriovenous fistula. In comparison, leiomyoscarcomas, angiosarcomas, and fibrohistiocytic tumors comprised 16.9, 3.8, and 18.7% of sarcomas in the U.S. general population.

SUMMARY

Leiomyosarcoma and angiosarcoma may occur disproportionately in immunodeficiency. Leiomyosarcomas appear causatively linked to EBV, whereas angiosarcomas might be correlated with an arteriovenous fistula. Additional studies are necessary to understand the contribution of immunodeficiency to the cause of these sarcomas.