title: The spectrum of pediatric fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors.
abstract: Fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors in neonates, infants, and children provide a diagnostic dilemma in surgical pathology due to their relative rarity and similarity in appearances. These tumors may be congenital or occur early during the first years of life or later during the first and second decades of life. The morphologic, immunocytochemical, ultrastructural, cytogenetic, and molecular features of the more "common" pediatric fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors are reviewed. In addition, the importance of a multimodal approach to tumor diagnosis is emphasized, with correlation with treatment and outcome differences among these unique fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors. The importance of providing an accurate diagnosis with pediatric fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors cannot be overstated, because treatment, prognosis, follow-up, and outcome are based on the initial assessment of these fascinating, but oftentimes, perplexing tumors.
authors.affiliation: Texas Children's Cancer Center Cytogenetics Laboratory, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Houston, Texas 77030-2313, USA. mjhicks@texaschildrenshospital.org
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mierau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005350:Fibroma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D047708:Myofibroma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018218:Neoplasms, Fibrous Tissue / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009379:Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure