Benign fibrous histiocytoma with indeterminate cells and eosinophils: collision, differentiation, or involution?

Am J Dermatopathol. 2004 Jun;26(3):237-41. doi: 10.1097/00000372-200406000-00014.

Abstract

This report describes the clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features of a benign fibrous histiocytoma of 3 years' duration situated on the posterior right arm of a 17-year-old woman. To our knowledge, this is the first published description of an association between the histologic features of benign fibrous histiocytoma with proliferating dermal dendrocytes and solid clusters of indeterminate cells and inflammatory infiltrate containing numerous eosinophils. Cell type identification was confirmed by immunohistochemical demonstration of positivity of indeterminate cells for CD1a and S-100 protein, by absence of Birbeck granules in electron microscopy study, and by positivity of fibroblast-like cells for factor XIIIa and negativity for CD34. Mitosis or cytologically atypical cells were absent. The MIB1-measured proliferative index of the tumor cells was less than 5% in spindle cells and approximately 15% in indeterminate cells. Possible pathogenic pathways are discussed that could account for divergent differentiation or a combination of neoplasms of different lineages.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antigens, CD1 / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
  • Cytoplasm / ultrastructure
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Dermis / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Eosinophils / pathology*
  • Factor XIIIa / analysis
  • Female
  • Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / chemistry
  • Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / pathology*
  • Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / surgery
  • Humans
  • Insect Bites and Stings / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / diagnosis*
  • Pseudolymphoma / diagnosis
  • S100 Proteins / analysis
  • Skin Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • Antigens, CD1
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD1a antigen
  • S100 Proteins
  • Factor XIIIa