Atypical fibroxanthoma and pleomorphic dermal sarcoma: different degrees of malignancy of the same entity

Authors

  • Estefanía Romera British Hospital of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Carla Minaudo British Hospital of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Félix Vigovich British Hospital of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47196/da.v29i2.2451

Keywords:

atypical fibroxanthoma, pleomorphic dermal sarcoma, definition

Abstract

The relationship between atypical fibroxanthoma and pleomorphic dermal sarcoma remains under discussion to this day. They are skin tumors that occur in elderly patients, with significant photodamage skin, most common location in the head and neck. Its histopathology shows different proportions of epithelioid, spindle and giant multinucleated cells with pleomorphic nuclei. The diagnosis is by exclusion, using a broad panel of immunohistochemistry. Clinically, FXA is a tumor with well-defined borders, it does not infiltrate deep tissues, it does not invade lymphovascular or perineural tissue and there is an absence of tumor necrosis, which distinguishes it from SPD.

In summary, both tumors share clinical and epidemiological characteristics and have a high degree of histopathological and immunohistochemical overlap. This is what has encouraged the classification of FXA and SPD as the same entity with different degrees of malignancy. Fact already accepted in the most current scientific publications.

The objective of this work is to comment on the latest updates that were presented in the literature to define both tumors.

Author Biographies

Estefanía Romera, British Hospital of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dermatologist, Dermatology Service, British Hospital of Buenos Aires

Carla Minaudo, British Hospital of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dermatologist, Dermatology Service, British Hospital of Buenos Aires

Félix Vigovich, British Hospital of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Pathologist, Dermatology Service, British Hospital of Buenos Aires

References

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Published

2023-08-01

Issue

Section

Continuing Medical Education