title: CD34 and factor XIIIa in the differential diagnosis of dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
abstract: To assess the use of anti-CD34 and anti-factor-XIIIa antibodies for the differential diagnosis of dermatofibroma (DF) and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), we stained 40 DFs and 13 DFSPs. A significant population of dendritic and spindle cells was reactive with anti-factor-XIIIa in 90% of DFs. In DFSP, most cases had very few or no reactive cells for this antiserum and reactivity was confined to the infiltrating edges of the neoplasm or to a very low percentage of cells within the bulk of the tumor. A significant overlap was detected, a reason why the stain is useful but lacks absolute specificity for this purpose. Human progenitor cell antigen (CD34) was found in all cases of DFSP that had 50-100% of reactive cells, but in only five DFs. In DFs, the reactivity for CD34 was focal, with only < or = 20% positive cells. When used together with other histopathological criteria, factor-XIIIa antibody and particularly CD34 may help to differentiate these two processes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abenoza
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lillemoe
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000473:pathology; D018223:Dermatofibrosarcoma / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000032:analysis*; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D009418:S100 Proteins; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D011503:Transglutaminases