title: Histochemical and ultrastructural study of an elastofibroma dorsi coexisting with a high grade spindle cell sarcoma.
abstract: Elastofibroma dorsi is a pseudotumoral fibroproliferative lesion characterized by polymorphic fiber-like deposits of elastinophilic material. Several theories have been reported explaining the pathogenesis of elastofibroma. Recent cytogenetic studies have demonstrated chromosomal instability in elastofibromas, not normally observed in non-neoplastic tissues. These chromosomal defects are commonly observed in aggressive fibromatosis too. Such clinical observations suggest a multistage pathogenetic mechanism for the onset of elastofibroma. This study, using histochemical, immunohistochemical staining techniques, and ultrastructural examination, describes the detection of an otherwise typical elastofibroma contextual to a high grade sarcoma. Hence, the coexistence of elastofibroma and high-grade sarcoma may suggest a causal link between the two pathological entities. The results obtained suggest that the coexistence of the two pathological entities is conceivably coincidental.
authors.affiliation: Anatomia Patologica, Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, via di Barbiano 1/10 40136 Bologna, Italy. marco.alberghini@ior.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alberghini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bacchini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pignatti
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maltarello
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanella
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Maraldi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertoni
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005350:Fibroma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*