Elsevier

Human Pathology

Volume 22, Issue 6, June 1991, Pages 563-568
Human Pathology

Original contribution
Angiomatoid “malignant fibrous histiocytoma”: An immunohistochemical study indicative of myoid differentiation

https://doi.org/10.1016/0046-8177(91)90233-FGet rights and content

Abstract

Six cases of angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), the rarest subtype of MFH, have been studied immunohistochemically using a broad panel of commercially available antisera in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue in an attempt to define the pattern of differentiation shown by this unusual tumor. As has been reported in the more common types of MFH, no evidence of histiocytic differentiation was found. However, five cases strongly expressed desmin (DER-11) and two also expressed muscle actin (HHF 35). All tissues examined were negative for myoglobin and α-smooth muscle actin. These results provide good evidence for some sort of myogenic or possibly myofibroblastic differentiation in angiomatoid MFH. Given its clinicopathologically and immunohistochemically distinctive features, which are very different from the other variants of MFH, redesignation of angiomatoid MFH as a low-grade myogenic sarcoma of uncertain histogenesis is tentatively proposed. The new term angiomatoid myosarcoma is suggested.

References (36)

  • T Hirose et al.

    Cytoskeletal properties of alveolar soft part sarcoma

    Hum Pathol

    (1990)
  • FM Enzinger et al.

    Malignant fibrohistiocytic tumors

  • FM Enzinger

    Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma. A distinct fibrohistiocytic tumor of children and young adults simulating a vascular neoplasm

    Cancer

    (1979)
  • C.C.J. Sun et al.

    An ultrastructural study of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma

    Cancer

    (1982)
  • HJ Leu et al.

    Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Case report and electron microscopic findings

    Virchows Arch [A]

    (1982)
  • MH Kanter et al.

    Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Cytology of fine needle aspiration and its differential diagnosis

    Arch Pathol Lab Med

    (1985)
  • S Kay

    Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Report of two cases with ultrastructural observations of one case

    Arch Pathol Lab Med

    (1985)
  • W Wegmann et al.

    Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Evidence for the histiocytic origin of tumor cells

    Virchows Arch [A]

    (1985)
  • ZB Argenyi et al.

    Congenital angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma. A light-microscopic, immunopathologic and electron-microscopic study

    Am J Dermatopathol

    (1988)
  • AK El-Naggar et al.

    Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma: Flow cytometric DNA analysis of six cases

    J Surg Oncol

    (1989)
  • G Pettinato et al.

    Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma: Cytologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and flow cytometric study of 20 cases

    Mod Pathol

    (1990)
  • SM Hsu et al.

    Use of avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) in immunoperoxidase techniques. A comparison between ABC and unlabelled antibody (PAP) procedures

    J Histochem Cytochem

    (1981)
  • RW Stirling et al.

    Pigmented neuroectodermal tumour of infancy: An immunohistochemical study

    Histopathology

    (1988)
  • MJ Costa et al.

    Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma: A long term follow up study of 108 cases with evaluation of histologic predictors of outcome

    Am J Surg Pathol

    (1990)
  • Y Soini et al.

    Widespread immunoreactivity for alpha-1-antichymotrypsin in different types of tumors

    Am J Clin Pathol

    (1988)
  • Y Soini et al.

    Alpha-1-antitrypsin and lysozyme. Their limited significance in fibrohistiocytic tumors

    Am J Clin Pathol

    (1989)
  • JJ Brooks

    The significance of double phenotypic patterns and markers in human sarcomas. A new model of mesenchymal differentiation

    Am J Pathol

    (1986)
  • GS Wood et al.

    Malignant fibrous histiocytoma tumor cells resemble fibroblasts

    Am J Surg Pathol

    (1986)
  • Cited by (111)

    • Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma Mimicking Eosinophilic Granuloma in a Pediatric Patient

      2019, World Neurosurgery
      Citation Excerpt :

      In pathology, AFH is characterized by nodular tumor cells, pseudoangiomatoid spaces, fibrous pseudomembranes, and the lymphocyte infiltration.1,9 There are no sensitive and specific immunohistochemical antibodies that have been found except vimentin that showed diffuse positive in all reported cases at present, whereas the presence of EWSR1-CREB1 fusion gene can assist in the diagnosis of AFH.1,10-14 AFH appears as a painless soft tissue mass in the subcutaneous or deep dermal layer of the body, and is often confused with malignant fibrous histiocytoma on MRI if occurring in soft tissues.15,16

    • Mesenchymal Tumors with EWSR1 Gene Rearrangements

      2019, Surgical Pathology Clinics
      Citation Excerpt :

      Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (originally described as angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma)157 is a soft tissue tumor of intermediate biologic potential. AFH typically arises within extremity deep dermis and subcutis in children and young adults,157–159 but can arise in older adults and in a variety of sites, including the head and neck and trunk, and more rarely other soft tissue sites or in viscera,14,160–168 and is sometimes associated with systemic symptoms.169 Most AFHs behave in a relatively indolent manner, although local recurrence occurs in up to 15%.

    • Spindle Cell Tumors: Common Clinical Associations

      2019, Practical Soft Tissue Pathology: A Diagnostic Approach A Volume in the Pattern Recognition Series
    • Tumors Often Associated With Prominent Lymphocytes and/or Plasma Cells

      2019, Practical Soft Tissue Pathology: A Diagnostic Approach A Volume in the Pattern Recognition Series
    • Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma of the radial pulse groove

      2018, Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie
    • Fibrohistiocytic Tumors

      2017, Clinics in Laboratory Medicine
      Citation Excerpt :

      The mitotic rate is generally low, but occasional cases show marked nuclear pleomorphism, a finding of uncertain clinical significance.72,80 Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma shows an unusual and unique immunophenotype, expressing the triad of desmin, EMA, and CD68 in approximately one-half of cases (Fig. 15E–G).73,81 Although not diagnostically significant, it is important to recognize that angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma may express CD99.

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    1

    Dr Fletcher is supported by and is a Senior Clinical Research Fellow with the Cancer Research Campaign (United Kingdom).

    View full text