Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a tumor in the wide spectrum of the bland-looking spindle cell lesions of the breast.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a soft tissue tumor, usually occurring as a cutaneous lesion localized to the trunk or extremities; although it has a high rate of local recurrence, its metastatic potential is very low and complete surgical excision is frequently curative. Most of the cases reported as "DFSP of the breast" are tumors arising in the subcutaneous tissue infiltrating the underlying breast parenchyma. To the best of our knowledge, only 5 cases of DFSP of the breast have been reported to date. We herein present a rare case of DFSP of the breast parenchyma in a 41-year-old female with emphasis on the diagnostic clues and the differential diagnosis with other benign and malignant spindle cell lesions of the breast.

Practical approach to diagnosis of bland-looking spindle cell lesions of the breast.

The diagnosis of bland-looking spindle cell lesions of the breast is often challenging because there is a close morphological and immunohistochemical overlap among the different entities. The present review will discuss reactive spindle cell nodule/exuberant scar, nodular fasciitis, inflammatory pseudotumor, myofibroblastoma (classic type), lipomatous myofibroblastoma, palisaded myofibroblastoma, benign fibroblastic spindle cell tumor, spindle cell lipoma, fibroma, leiomyoma, solitary fibrous tumor, myxoma, schwannoma/neurofibroma, desmoid-type fibromatosis, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, low-grade fibromatosis-like spindle cell carcinoma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor and low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma arising in the breast parenchyma. The pathologist should be aware of each single lesion to achieve a correct diagnosis to ensure patient a correct prognostic information and therapy. Accordingly representative illustrations and morphological/immunohistochemical diagnostic clues will be provided.

Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the vagina: clinico-pathologic features of a common tumor with a rare localization.

Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma is a rare primary vaginal carcinoma and considerably more uncommon than metastatic lesions which represent the most frequent malignancy at this anatomic site. Among all malignant tumors, colorectal, breast and female genital tract carcinomas have the tendency to metastasize to the vagina.As morphologic and immunohistochemical features of intestinal-type adenocarcinoma occurring primarily in the vagina are not specific, clinical and radiologic information is crucial to exclude a metastatic lesion.Herein we present a rare case of intestinal-type adenocarcinoma from a villous adenoma, presenting as a polypoid mass in the posterior wall of vaginal introitus of 51-year-old menopausal woman. To the best of our knowledge, only 19 cases of intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the vagina have been reported in the English literature so far. Notably the origin from a previous villous adenoma has been well documented only in a few cases.

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma: a core biopsy-based diagnosis.

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma (CAF) is a very rare tumor of the extremities, which can be difficult to diagnose due to its wide cyto-architectural pattern. We herein report the clinicopathologic features of a case of CAF localized on the dorsal face of the foot in a 5-year-old male child, diagnosed by needle core biopsy. Differential diagnostic problems are discussed. The present case emphasizes that the diagnosis of CAF can be confidentially rendered on core needle biopsy if the main morphological components of this tumor are concurrently present; however, before making the diagnosis of CAF, the clinical and radiological context should be considered.

Lipomatous myofibroblastoma of the breast: case report with diagnostic and histogenetic considerations.

We report rare case of myofibroblastoma (MFB) of the breast comprised predominantly of a mature fatty component, representing approximately 70% of the entire tumour area. This tumour, designated "lipomatous MFB", should be interpreted as the morphological result of an unbalanced bidirectional differentiation of the precursor mammary stromal cell, with the adipocytic component overwhelming the fibroblastic/myofibroblastic one. Lipomatous MFB is a rare variant of mammary MFB, which can mimic malignancy because of the close juxtaposition of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts with mature adipocytes, resulting in a finger-like infiltrative growth pattern of the former towards the latter. Histogenetic considerations and differential diagnostic problems with other bland-looking spindle cell tumours containing infiltrating fat are provided.

Lipomatous angiomyofibroblastoma of the vulva: diagnostic and histogenetic considerations.

We report a rare case of angiomyofibroblastoma (AMFB) of the vulva, composed predominantly of a mature fatty component, representing approximately 60% of the entire tumour. The tumour, designated as "lipomatous AMFB", should be interpreted as the morphological result of an unbalanced bidirectional differentiation of the presumptive precursor stromal cell resident in the hormonally-responsive stroma of the lower genital tract, with the adipocytic component overwhelming the fibroblastic/myofibroblastic one. The close admixture of adipocytes with spindled/epithelioid cells of the conventional AMFB resulted, focally, in a pseudo-infiltrative growth pattern and pseudo-lipoblast-like appearance, raising problems in differential diagnosis, especially with well-differentiated lipoma-like liposarcoma and spindle cell liposarcoma. Awareness of the possibility that vulvo-vaginal AMFB may contain large amount of lipomatous component is crucial to avoid confusion with other bland-looking spindle cell tumours containing infiltrating fat.

Intraparenchymal leiomyoma of the breast: report of a case with emphasis on needle core biopsy-based diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: We report the clinicopathologic features of a rare case of leiomyoma of the breast parenchyma in a 36-year-old female, diagnosed preoperatively at core biopsy. A complete review of the literature on the topic is provided and differential diagnostic problems are discussed. METHODS: Standard histological examination and immunohistochemical analyses using a large panel of antibodies were performed in both the core biopsy and surgical specimen. RESULTS: Ultrasonography revealed a well-circumscribed tumour mass without calcifications. Histological examination of the core biopsy showed proliferation of bland-looking eosinophilic spindle cells arranged in a fascicular growth pattern. Mitoses, pleomorphism and necrosis were absent. Immunohistochemistry, revealing diffuse staining for a-smooth muscle actin, desmin and h-caldesmon, confirmed the leiomiomatous nature of neoplastic cells. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the surgical specimen confirmed the definitive diagnosis of leiomyoma. CONCLUSIONS: The present case emphasizes that diagnosis of leiomyoma of the breast parenchyma can be confidentially rendered on needle core biopsy. We believe that correct diagnosis is primarily dependent on the awareness that this tumour can arise in this unusual site on rare occasions.

Lipoblast-like signet-ring cells in neurofibroma: a potential diagnostic pitfall of malignancy.

Benign peripheral nerve sheath tumours, including neurofibroma, may occasionally contain a heterologous mature fatty component. Additional lipoblast-like cells can be occasionally identified among mature adipocytes. We report the first case of a plexiform neurofibroma from a NF1 patient containing exclusively lipoblast-like cells exhibiting morphological and immunohistochemical features identical to univaculoted lipoblasts typically seen in myxoid liposarcoma. Awareness of the possibility that an otherwise typical neurofibroma may contain lipoblast-like cells is crucial for the pathologist to avoid a misdiagnosis of malignancy. Differential diagnostic problems and histogenetic considerations are provided.

Atypical dermatofibroma with predominant epithelioid/deciduoid-like cell component. Histogenetic considerations in the wide spectrum of fibrohistiocytic dermal tumours.

Atypical and epithelioid cell variants of dermatofibroma may represent a potential diagnostic pitfall. Only rarely atypical dermatofibroma may show focal epithelioid cell features. We herein report a rare case of dermatofibroma composed of a predominant (> 90%) epithelioid/deciduoid-like cell component, in which rare multinucleated bizarre cells and atypical mitoses were additional findings. Tumour was classified as "atypical dermatofibroma with predominant epithelioid/deciduoid-like cell component". The coexistence of at least two different variants, i.e. epithelioid and atypical variants, in the same dermatofibroma suggests that dermal fibrohistiocytic tumours belong to a continuous morphological spectrum. Accordingly, the morphological variants of dermatofibroma should be regarded as variations on a common basic theme. Differential diagnosis with other epitheliod cell dermal tumour- and tumour-like lesions is discussed.

Lipoma with osteocartilaginous metaplasia: case report and literature review.

Osteocartilaginous metaplasia in lipomas is rare and mainly encountered in large-sized, long-standing lipomas. This entity can be found at almost any site of the body, particularly in the soft tissues of the skeletal system, breast, pharynx, and nasopharynx. We describe a case of lipoma with osteochondroid metaplasia in a 65-year-old woman with an indolent lesion, and discuss differential diagnoses.

Fibrous hamartoma of infancy of the labium majus: a typical lesion in an unusual site.

Fibrous hamartoma of infancy is a soft tissue subdermal fibromatous tumour that characteristically occurs in the first years of life. It is histologically composed of three different components that are intimately admixed: well-defined bundles of fibro-myofibroblastic spindle-shaped cells, nodular proliferations of immature-looking mesenchymal cells set in a myxoid stroma, and mature adipose tissue. A wide intralesional and interlesional cellular composition is commonly observed. Fibrous hamartoma of infancy usually arises from subcutaneous tissue of the trunk, axilla, upper extremities and inguinal region. Only rarely has fibrous hamartoma of infancy been reported in genital organs, with only one case described in the labium majus. We report a rare case of fibrous hamartoma of infancy in the labium majus of a 1-year old female child. Ultrasonography revealed the presence of a mass-like lesion involving subcutaneous tissue, with ill-defined margins. We emphasize that fibrous hamartoma of infancy should be included in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumour-like and tumour lesions of the vulva in children. Awareness that fibrous hamartoma of infancy occurs at this site with irregular margins is important to avoid confusion with other lesions exhibiting a more aggressive behaviour.

[Evaluation of cervical gaps in complete metal crowns cast in alternative silver-tin alloys. Relationship to investing techniques]. / Avaliação do desajuste cervical de coroas totais metálicas fundidas com ligas alternativas à base de prata-estanho. Relacionado com técnicas de inclusão.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cervical mistifing of casting full metal crowns according to investment techniques using commercial available alloys made from silver stannum. Fifteen metal full crowns were obtained through stainless steel die with full crowns preparation, included into three groups as follows: conventional technique, vacuum technique and pressure technique. Readings of cervical disagreement were made through a comparing microscope increased 45 x and each crown was measured in 4 different regions (vestibular, lingual mesial and distal). This way it was verified which of the techniques proposed would balance the casting shrinkage for the silver-stannum alloy used. From the results obtained we conclude that the best cercical adaptation was the one got through pressure technique.

[Influence of positive pressure on gypsum bonded investments]. / Estudo da influencia da pressão positiva no revestimento aglutinado por gesso.

The work aims to investigate the influence of positive pressure to initial and final setting time, as well as the volume variation in course of the pressure carried out gypsum-bonded investment found at Dental Commerce. Seventy-six test samples were obtained, being five of them through conventional investing technique and seventy-one through technique by pressure. Gillmore needles were employed for determining the setting time, meanwhile for volumetric variation a mathematic formula had been applied. According to results, it was concluded that the use of positive pressure affected the initial and the final setting time and the volume after set.