title: Metastasizing atypical fibroxanthoma (cutaneous malignant histiocytoma): report of five cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is an unusual malignant fibrohistiocytic tumor of sun-damaged skin. When first described, it was felt to be a reactive tumor of low malignant potential. More recently, it has been shown to be a tumor of intermediate malignant potential.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe five cases of metastatic AFX.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients ranging in age from 65 to 85 years old presented with metastatic AFX. Three of the five cases presented with regional lymph node disease. Also, three of the five cases had other aggressive cutaneous malignancies. LN-2 (CD74) staining was positive in three of five primary tumors and two of five metastatic tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The metastatic potential of AFX may be underestimated. LN-2 staining may be a useful marker in identifying more aggressive tumor behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. jennifer_cooper@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Glynis A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000473:pathology