Primary Cutaneous Solitary Fibrous Tumor on the Back

Our plain-English summary of Primary Cutaneous Solitary Fibrous Tumor on the Back, by S.S. Han, S.K. Park, J.W. Jang, et al (Annals of Dermatology, 2020).

The study

• Authors: S.S. Han, S.K. Park, J.W. Jang, T.L. Kim, H.S. Choi, H.K. Park, H.M. Seo, J.S. Kim
• Journal: Annals of Dermatology
• Published: 2020;32(2):155-158
• Type of article: Case report
• Cited by: 1 article, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) are uncommon mesenchymal tumors. SFT have several synonyms including localized fibrous tumor, benign mesothelioma, localized fibrous mesothelioma, and submesothelial fibroma. SFT usually occur in the pleura or other serosal surfaces, but SFT can also develop in extrapleural areas including the nasal cavity, orbit, retroperitoneum, and pelvis. Cutaneous SFT is extremely rare, and more likely to occur in the head and neck region. Histologically, this tumor can mimic a variety of benign and malignant tumors such as dermatofibroma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, spindle cell lipoma or other mesenchymal tumors. Most cases of SFT show non-aggressive clinical courses, with low recurrence rates. Herein, we describe a case of primary cutaneous SFT which presented with huge mass on the back.

Copyright © 2020 The Korean Dermatological Association and The Korean Society for Investigative Dermatology.

In plain English

This article is a case report about one patient. The authors are from the Department of Dermatology at Hanyang University Guri Hospital in Korea. It concerns a solitary fibrous tumor (SFT), a rare tumor that the authors note has also been called "benign mesothelioma" or "localized fibrous mesothelioma" and that usually occurs in the pleura. In this case the tumor arose in the skin. A 74-year-old man had a slowly growing, painless lump under the skin of his upper back for 10 years. It measured about 5 cm across. Under the microscope the tumor was made of spindle-shaped cells, and no cellular dysplasia or mitosis was seen. The tumor cells stained positive for CD34, Bcl-2, CD99 and factor XIIIa and negative for smooth muscle actin and S-100. Based on the excision biopsy, the tumor was diagnosed as SFT of the skin. It had not come back after one year of follow-up. The authors described it as a rare case with unusual clinical features. The article does not mention asbestos or any exposure history for this patient.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: case report (single patient)
• Who was studied: one 74-year-old man with a lump under the skin of his upper back; the authors are from the Department of Dermatology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Korea; dates of care not stated
• Main results:
  • The patient had a solid, mobile mass under the skin, about 5 cm in diameter, that had been growing slowly for 10 years without pain
  • Under the microscope, no cellular dysplasia or mitosis was observed in the tumor's spindle cells
  • The tumor cells stained positive for CD34, factor XIIIa, CD99 and Bcl-2
  • The tumor cells stained negative for S-100 and smooth muscle actin (SMA)
  • Based on the excision biopsy specimen, the tumor was diagnosed as SFT of the skin
  • The tumor did not recur after one year of follow-up
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that they had reported a rare case of primary SFT on the back, diagnosed by excisional biopsy, with unusual clinical features

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Mesenchymal Tumor, Mesothelioma, Pleura, Serosal Surface, Retroperitoneum, Spindle Cell.

Related studies

• Nuclear expression of STAT6 distinguishes solitary fibrous tumor from histologic mimics — L.A. Doyle, M. Vivero, et al. (2014)
• Solitary fibrous tumor of the mediastinum. A report of 14 cases — G.B. Witkin, J. Rosai (1989)
• Solitary fibrous tumor of the upper respiratory tract. A report of six cases — G.B. Witkin, J. Rosai (1991)
• Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and outcome — P. Magdeleinat, M. Alifano, et al. (2002)
• Somatic and visceral solitary fibrous tumors in the abdomen and pelvis: cross-sectional imaging spectrum — A.K. Shanbhogue, S.R. Prasad, et al. (2011)
• Solitary fibrous tumor of the liver: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of nine cases — C.A. Moran, K.G. Ishak, et al. (1998)

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