Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma: a case report and review of the literature

Difficulties in diagnosing angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma of the head and neck region: A case report

BACKGROUND

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare, slow-growing soft tissue tumor. It appears mostly on the limbs and trunk in children and young adults. The biology of AFH remains unclear because of the small number of reported cases. Diagnostic testing does not provide definitive results. It has two clinical forms, that differ in terms of gene expression and clinical prognosis. It is important to inform the laboratory which specific gene testing is necessary. Here, we describe a case of rare AFH in the submandibular region using a full genetic panel.

CASE SUMMARY

A 13-year-old boy who had been misdiagnosed in the past 6 mo by his dentist visited our clinic because of a lesion in the submandibular area on the right side. The lesion was homogeneous and painless upon palpation. No skin discoloration was observed. Due to the non-specific radiological picture computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cone-beam CT (CBCT), and ultrasound-guided biopsy were performed. A venous malformation was suspected on the MRI. None of the tests provided a definitive diagnosis. Owing to the non-specific radiological findings, the patient qualified for surgical treatment. The surgical procedure included an excisional biopsy. The diagnostic testing was extended using gene rearrangements. The most distinctive gene translocation in diagnosing AFH is within the EWS RNA-binding protein 1 (EWSR1)-CREB-binding protein. However, in this case, the diagnosis was confirmed by a rearrangement within the EWSR1 gene testing.

CONCLUSION

AFH in the submandibular location is rare, and surgical treatment with genetic evaluation defines AFH type that affects subsequent procedures.

Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma Mimicking a Lymph Nodal Lesion: A Case Report

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is an uncommon soft tissue neoplasm with potential for recurrence and rare metastasis. The majority of cases are painless, slow growing and occur in superficial extremities of young adults. Here we report a case of Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma in a 28-year-old male patient presenting as a slowly growing painful mass in the groin region. This case is of particular interest due to its uncommon site of presentation and its misdiagnosis as lymph nodal lesion on radiology. Although it is a rare entity, it should be considered in differential diagnosis of soft tissue mass in a young patient.

Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma: A Series of Three Cases

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare, slow-growing soft tissue tumor with an intermediate biologic potential and uncertain line of differentiation, and minimal metastatic potential. AFH may mimic both the clinical, histological, and radiological findings of several tumors; therefore, it is frequently misdiagnosed. 

Three cases of AFH were included in this study. A six-year-old male and two females with an age of 12 and 17 years are presented. The primary locations were in the right shoulder (case 1), left medial proximal thigh (case 2), and left lateral knee (case 3). Two cases (cases 2&3) were presented with a painful mass. In the three patients, the masses were firm, mobile, and not attached to the skin. 

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done, illustrating unspecific findings to reach a diagnosis. Needle biopsies were performed in all patient, and the diagnosis of AFH was reached. All three patients underwent wide surgical excision of the tumor. Patients were followed up routinely every three to four months with imaging studies to rule out recurrence and metastasis, for a period of 15 months (case 1), 26 months (case 2), and 19 months (case 3), which all resulted negatively. 

Tocilizumab Controls Paraneoplastic Inflammatory Syndrome but Does Not Suppress Tumor Growth of Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare soft tissue tumor that rarely metastasizes but lacks effective systemic therapy once it propagates. In some reports, high interleukin-6 (IL-6) production promotes tumor growth by autocrine stimulation and tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor antagonist, can control AFH growth. Here, we present a case report on a patient with local recurrence and distant lymph node metastasis of AFH treated with tocilizumab. As a result, the inhibition of the IL-6 signaling pathway controlled paraneoplastic inflammatory syndrome (PIS); however, the local recurrent tumor progressed. This case implied that IL-6 is not necessarily the cause of tumor growth in AFH. Therefore, physicians should bear in mind that watchful observation is needed whether tocilizumab can control tumor progression despite the amelioration of PIS associated with the attenuated effect of IL-6 on AFH.

[Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma: a literature review and a report of two cases]

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare soft tissue tumor of intermediate malignancy potential, which predominantly affects children and young adults. This paper describes two cases of AFH, as well as a review of literature during 1979 to 2021. It gives data on the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and genetic characteristics of AFH.

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) unusual clinical presentation and unique radiological findings

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) are rare soft tissue mesenchymal neoplasms that commonly affect children and young adults. They are classified as “intermediate tumours of uncertain differentiation”. We present a case of an 8-year-old child with a left thigh AFH and antecedent history of minor trauma showing perilesional oedema and enhancement at MRI, leading to an initial working diagnosis of infected haematoma that contributed to the challenge in reaching the final diagnosis. Although most of the imaging features of AFH previously described in the literature are demonstrated in this case, the presence of arterial vascular channels within the tumour and feeding branch from the left profunda femoris artery is unusual and to our knowledge the first to be published in the literature.

Difficult diagnosis of Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma of the leg mimicking a benign condition

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is a rarely metastasizing soft-tissue tumor of low-grade malignancy. Here we report a case of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma located in the leg of a 15-year-old female. This case is of particular interest due to its radiological features that led to raise two questions concerning the nature of the disease (is it reactive or tumoral?) and its site of origin (within soft tissues or the tibial periosteum?). Here we describe ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scan and positron emission tomography findings that helped answer these questions, understand the real nature of the disease and its appropriate treatment. This case shows that a single type of imaging technique may not be sufficient to understand the real nature of a musculoskeletal lesion and that it is necessary to combine all information derived from various imaging techniques in order to correctly diagnose and treat the disease.

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma: a series of seven cases including genetically confirmed aggressive cases and a literature review

Background

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare soft tissue tumor of intermediate biologic potential. Because of its rarity and nonspecific radiological and diverse pathological findings, AFH is often clinically misdiagnosed. However, few clinical reports have described this tumor. As reported herein, we analyzed the clinical and radiological features and clinical outcomes of AFH.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of seven cases histopathologically diagnosed as AFH. We examined clinical features, MRI findings, histopathological diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes.

Results

These seven cases comprised five male and two female patients with ages ranging from 8 to 50 years old. The primary locations included upper extremities in 2, lower extremities in 4, and the inguinal region in one patient. Of the tumors, 4 occurred in subcutaneous tissues and 3 occurred in deep tissues. No cases were diagnosed as AFH from MRI and needle biopsy results. All cases were diagnosed histopathologically after excision. After treatment, 2 patients (29%) had tumor recurrence and metastasis, one of whom died from disease progression. These 2 aggressive cases involved both EWSR1 and CREB1 gene rearrangements as determined by FISH. The other patients were alive and well without recurrence or metastasis.

Conclusion

AFH is a rare tumor that is difficult to diagnose. Therefore, it tends to be misdiagnosed and to be treated inadequately by referring physicians. Surgeons must therefore be mindful of the presence of AFH, learn about appropriate treatment necessary for this tumor, and conduct careful follow-up because AFH can engender poor outcomes.

Imaging of childhood angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma with pathological correlation

BACKGROUND

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is a rare soft-tissue tumor that more often affects children and young adults. There is little information available regarding the imaging appearance of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma in children.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the ultrasonographic (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was done of US and MR imaging findings in children with angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma. Clinical findings and histopathology with molecular analysis results were also collected.

RESULTS

There were 7 children with angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma with a median age of 6 years (age range: 16 months-14 years). Patients presented clinically with a soft-tissue mass in the extremities or in the trunk. Four children had anemia, and three of them had additional systemic symptoms. Two patients had US and three had MR imaging while the remaining two had both. Lesion size ranged from 1.3 cm to 7.2 cm. In four patients, angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma presented as a nonspecific predominantly solid mass. The other three patients had a combination of the following imaging findings: intralesional blood-filled cystic spaces with fluid-fluid levels, enhancing fibrous pseudocapsule and hemosiderin deposition. These findings correlated well with histopathology.

CONCLUSION

The imaging detection of intralesional blood-filled cystic spaces with fluid-fluid levels, enhancing fibrous pseudocapsule and hemosiderin deposition in a soft-tissue tumor in a child may suggest the diagnosis of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma. A history of systemic symptoms and anemia in the presence of a soft-tissue mass may also be a clue for the diagnosis of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma.

Recurrent painful perianal subcutaneous angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma: a case report and review of the literature

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare, low-grade malignant soft-tissue tumor most commonly occurring in the extremities of children and young adults and has a low potential of local recurrence and metastasis. Here, we present a case of recurrent subcutaneous perianal AFH. After an initial diagnosis as a sebaceous cyst, we were able to use immunohistochemical findings to correctly identify the mass as an AFH. The patient was effectively treated after 3 surgical resections. This case emphasizes the need to correctly diagnose soft-tissue tumors using a variety of diagnostic modalities to ensure that the patient receives proper treatment.