title: Fine-needle aspiration of primary and recurrent benign fibrous histiocytoma: classic, aneurysmal, and myxoid variants.
abstract: There is a limited number of correlative cytopathological studies of fibrous histiocytoma (FHC). To better define cytopathological criteria of diagnosis, we have reviewed fine-needle aspirates (FNA) from 36 FHCs (32 classical, 1 myxoid, and 3 aneurysmal variants on corresponding histological sections). Original cytological diagnoses were benign in 33 (91.7%) cases (22 accurate) and false positive in 3 (8.3%) cases. All smears were surprisingly homogenous and composed of histiocytic cells with finely vacuolated cytoplasm in 27 (75%) cases, small regular spindle cells in 25 (69%) cases, and giant cells in 17 (47%) cases. Histiocytic cells were attached to vascular structures in 9 (25%) cases. Slight cytonuclear atypia was seen in five (14%) cases. Three (8.3%) cases showed numerous siderophages. In two (5.6%) cases, there were abundant inflammatory backgrounds and in one (3%) case there was a scant myxoid background. Storiform patterns, round cells, prominent atypia, necroses, or mitotic figures were not seen. FHC should be differentiated from other benign, low- and intermediate-grade spindle-cell neoplasms such as low-grade fibrosarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, nodular fasciitis, spindle-cell malignant melanoma, and monophasic synovial sarcoma. Some cases may be misinterpreted as malignant, especially in cases of recurrence or in patients with a cancer history.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Biology, Institut Curie, Paris, France. jerzy.klijanienko@curie.net
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klijanienko
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Caillaud
authors.forename: Réal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagacé
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*