Pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma (PMH) is a well-recognized neoplasm that usually arises in the soft tissue; concurrent bone involvement occurs in 24% of cases. PMH of bone without soft tissue involvement is rare. We describe the clinicopathologic findings of 10 such cases, the largest series reported to date. The study included 9 male and 1 female patient; their ages ranged from 12 to 74 years (mean 36.7 y). All patients had multiple tumors with a distinct regional distribution: 45% restricted to the lower extremity; 25% to the spine and pelvis; and 15% to the upper extremity. On imaging studies the tumors were well circumscribed and lytic. The neoplasms were composed of spindled cells arranged in intersecting fascicles with scattered epithelioid cells; epithelioid cells predominated in 3 cases. The neoplastic cells contained abundant densely eosinophilic cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei. There was limited cytologic atypia and necrosis, few mitoses (0 to 2/10 high-power fields), and inconspicuous stroma. Unique findings included abundant intratumoral reactive woven bone and hemorrhage with numerous osteoclast-like giant cells. Immunohistochemically, most tumors were positive for keratin, ERG, and CD31; CD34 was negative. The balanced t(7:19)(q22;13) translocation was documented in 3 cases. Follow-up is limited, but no patient developed documented visceral dissemination, and all have stable or progressive osseous disease. PMH exclusively involving bone is rare. It is multicentric, often involves the lower extremity, and has unusual morphology. The differential diagnosis includes epithelioid vascular neoplasms, giant cell tumor, bone forming neoplasms, and metastatic carcinoma. Because of its rarity, unusual presentation, and morphology, accurate diagnosis can be challenging.
Cryptic rearrangement of chromosomes 17 and 22 should be suspected in variant ring chromosomes and translocations. Pregnancy may contribute to accelerated growth of DFSP, and delay in surgical resection should be avoided.
Benign proliferative nipple duct lesions (PNDLs) pose a diagnostic problem for clinicians and pathologists. Clinically, they may be associated with skin changes typically present in Paget's disease of the nipple. The identification of numerous scattered cells in the epidermis that are immunoreactive for low-molecular-weight cytokeratin may lead to further confusion with Paget's disease. We studied the nipple epidermis in nine cases of PNDL and compared them with 26 histologically normal nipples from mastectomy specimens. CAM 5.2 and anticytokeratin 7 (CK7) immunoreactive cells were identified in the epidermis of seven of nine nipples associated with PNDL. The cytokeratin-positive cells appeared cytologically benign and were dispersed singly (scattered in seven of seven cases and frequent in four of seven cases) or formed small aggregates with occasional tubular structures (three of seven cases) in the basal and middle layers of the epidermis. In two of seven cases, these epidermal immunoreactive cells showed continuity with the underlying PNDL, suggesting the spread or continuation of lesional cells to the epidermis. Dispersed single immunoreactive cells were identified in small numbers (scattered) in the basal layer of the epidermis in 12 of 26 normal nipples and more frequently in 1 of 12 cases. In all cases, the intraepidermal cells were negative for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and Her-2/neu. We conclude that intraepidermal CAM 5.2 and anti-CK7 immunoreactive cells, which are normally present in the nipple epidermis, may proliferate and form aggregates when there is an underlying PNDL. The presence of these cells does not imply Paget's disease when the intraepidermal cells have a bland cytologic appearance, fail to overexpress Her-2/neu, and there is no carcinoma within the PNDL or elsewhere in the breast.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.