Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) was first described in 1982 by Goldstein. Considered a rare malignant skin appendageal tumor, it is often underdiagnosed due to its clinical and histopathological resemblance to other cutaneous neoplasms. MAC is locally aggressive with infiltration of perineural spaces, subcutaneous tissue, skeletal muscles, and so on. Aggressive treatment including wide local excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, or radiation therapy is necessary owing to the high recurrence rate. Herein, we report a case of a 47-year-old Korean woman with a skin-colored hardened plaque on the scalp with a clinical diagnosis of cicatricial alopecia and histopathological diagnosis of MAC. After treatment by Mohs micrographic surgery, the patient is being followed up regularly without any sign of recurrence. This case demonstrates an uncommon topography of MAC on the scalp with secondary cicatricial alopecia and highlights the need for awareness of the potential for MAC in the diagnosis of alopecia with a slow-growing tumor.
Alopecia* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mohs Surgery ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Subcutaneous Tissue

Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Male ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; SMARCB1 Protein ; Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Leg ; MART-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Skin metastasis from internal carcinoma rarely occurs and it has an incidence of 0.7% to 9%. Although the prognosis of the skin metastases varies considerably depending on the type of the primary malignancy, presence of metastatic skin cancer usually implies a widespread systemic disease and a high mortality. A 50-year-old Korean male patient visited Dankook University Hospital for evaluation of skin rash on his whole abdomen of about 1 month's duration. He had undergone laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy due to early gastric cancer about 3 months ago. He did not complain of any noticeable symptoms like febrile sense or pruritus. Skin biopsy was performed on the periumbilical area at previous port site and around the scar. Microscopic examination revealed multiple malignant cells in lymphatic spaces, consistent with metastatic carcinoma. He was therefore diagnosed with isolated skin metastasis from early gastic cancer. Because of patient's poor liver function, systemic chemotherapy could not be performed and only best supportive care was provided. Herein, we report a rare case of cellulitis-like skin metastasis from early gastric cancer with a brief review of the literature.
Carcinoma/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Keratin-7/metabolism ; Laparoscopy ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Skin Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology/secondary ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of epithelioid hemangioma.

METHODSThe morphologic features of 7 cases of epithelioid hemangioma of skin, bone and venous vessels were studied.

RESULTSThere were altogether 4 male and 3 female patients (median age = 34 years; age range from 14 to 54 years). The 3 skin cases presented as single or multiple erythematous to bluish nodules or papules, with or without itchiness. The 2 bone cases appeared as osteolytic expansile lesions on radiologic examination. The remaining 2 cases involved medium-sized venous structures and presented as small isolated nodules in soft tissue. Histologically, the lesions were characterized by the presence of exuberant endothelial proliferations with various degree of inflammatory reaction. The neoplastic endothelial cells were plump, eosinophilic and polygonal, forming vascular channels. Occasional solid sheet-like arrangement was demonstrated. Intracytoplasmic vacuoles were commonly identified, indicating formation of primary lumen. The surrounding stroma contained various number of eosinophils and lymphoplasmacytic cells. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells were positive for endothelial markers (CD31 and CD34) and negative for epithelial marker (cytokeratin). Follow-up information was available in 6 cases. The duration of follow-up ranged from 5 to 36 months (median = 14 months). There was no evidence of recurrence or distant metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSEpithelioid hemangioma is a rare benign curable lesion which can be multifocal, involving skin, soft tissue and bone. It needs to be distinguished from Kimura's disease and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia ; pathology ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; pathology ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Actins ; metabolism ; Angiomyoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Forearm ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Actins ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Hemangiosarcoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic characteristics of atypical fibrous histiocytoma (AFH), with emphasis on differential diagnosis.

METHODSThe clinical and pathologic features were reviewed in 24 cases of AFH (from 2007 to 2012). The follow-up data were analyzed. Immunohistochemical study using EnVision method was carried out.

RESULTSThere were 10 males and 14 females with age at presentation ranging from 8 to 67 years (mean = 41 years and median = 39 years). The tumor occurred in the extremities (number = 14), trunk (number = 8) or head and neck region (number = 2). Apart from one case, all were located in the dermis. The clinical appearance was similar to those of classic fibrous histiocytoma. Histologically, the tumor was characterized by various number of hyperchromatic bizarre cells scattered in the background. Mitotic figures including atypical ones were noted, especially in the more cellular areas. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells expressed vimentin. Focal positivity for alpha-smooth muscle actin was demonstrated in some cases. Follow-up information was available in 14 cases. Three of them suffered local recurrence. None of these cases had distant metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSAtypical fibrous histiocytoma represents a pleomorphic variant of fibrous histiocytoma. Although the tumor exhibits worrisome features, it usually pursuits a relatively benign course. Nevertheless, rare cases may recur, especially after incomplete excision. AFH is sometimes mistaken as atypical fibroxanthoma. A distinction between the two entities is warranted as they represent two different entities.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Back ; pathology ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Extremities ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Xanthomatosis ; pathology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study was conducted to review the overall survival and treatment outcomes of high grade melanoma in the extremity to explore the clinical features of malignant melanoma of the hand and foot, and the therapeutic efficacies and survival rate after amputation. METHODS: The clinical data of 30 patients with malignant melanoma of the hand and foot (confirmed by pathological examination), who were admitted and treated in our hospital between 2001 and 2010, were analyzed retrospectively. We analyzed variables affecting overall and disease-free survival. RESULTS: Thirty patients (18 men and 12 women) treated with an amputation procedure for malignant melanoma in the hand or foot constituted the study cohort. The average age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 58.7 years. Univariate analysis for overall melanoma survival revealed that diagnosis at over 70 years of age, postoperative lymph node metastasis, and location of the tumor were significant prognostic factors. And on the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, old age, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage and postoperative lymph node metastasis showed statistically significant differences in the 5-year survival rate. Also, amputation with aggressive lymph node dissection showed improved long term survival in advanced stage melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: In Korean melanoma patients, for the treatment of high grade melanomas in the extremities after amputation, early diagnosis and postoperative follow-up for evaluation of lymph node metastasis are critical factors for long-term survival. And by performing lymph node dissection during amputation, we may improve the survival rate in advanced stage melanoma patients.
Aged ; *Amputation ; Analysis of Variance ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Foot/*surgery ; Hand/*surgery ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Melanoma/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical pathological features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pigmented dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance (PDFSP).

METHODSThe clinical history, histopathological features, immunohistochemical characteristics, treatment and prognosis were analyzed in seven cases of PDFSP. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to detect the expression of COL1A1/PDGFB fusion gene, and related literature was reviewed.

RESULTSThe median age of the seven patients (4 females, 3 males) was 47 years with the tumors involving mostly the trunk (four cases). Histologically, PDFSP showed a cellular lesion composed of spindle cells arranged in short fascicles that form a distinct storiform pattern, and the pigmented bipolar or multipolar dendritic cells were present with tentacle like processes emanating from a nucleus containing zone. One case showed fibrosarcomatous change. The pigment was tinctorially similar to melanin. The spindle cells were positive for CD34 and vimentin, but negative for HMB45, Melan A, S-100, desmin, CD68 or α-SMA. HMB45, Melan A, S-100 and vimentin were expressed in the melanin containing cells in 4, 4, 5 and 7 cases, respectively. The labeling index of Ki-67 was 1%-8%. Among the 4 cases successfully examined by FISH, 3 showed t(17;22)(q21;q13) which suggested COL1A1/PDGFB fusion gene. Three patients were treated by wide local excision and four were treated by simple surgical excision. Two patients developed recurrences during the follow-up period of 12 to 123 months. Of those treated by wide local excision, none developed recurrence. No patient died in the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONSPDFSP is a rare pigmented variant of DFSP and an intermediate grade malignant tumor. The orgin of the tumor cells is still controversial. Surgical pathologists and dermatopathologists need to be aware of the prototypical histological appearance of PDFSP as there is a risk of misdiagonsing it as either pigmented tumors associated with neurocutaneous syndromes or a highly malignant melanocytic neoplasm.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; MART-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neurofibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism