title: Multiple cellular neurothekeomas--a case report and review on the role of immunohistochemistry as a histologic adjunct.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cellular neurothekeoma is a relatively rare, benign cutaneous neoplasm, which usually presents as a solitary papule or nodule involving the head and neck area of young adults. Multiple neurothekeomas have not, to date, been known to occur.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a 30-year-old, otherwise healthy, male who presented with multiple neurothekeomas (15) in the head and neck area over a period of 12 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the unifying feature of all biopsied (10 of 15) lesions was the presence of epithelioid cells--the lesions differed in their cellularity and the degree of sclerosis of the stromal component. Antigenic profiling of the lesional cells revealed expression of vimentin, NKI/C3, PGP 9.5, factor XIIIa and CD68 but not S100, HMB45, MelanA, EMA, MSA, desmin, CD57 or NGF-R.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case report is the first to document the occurrence of multiple cellular neurothekeomas. An unusual histologic feature of some of the biopsied lesions was the presence of a markedly sclerotic stroma.
authors.affiliation: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, 415 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA. Mahalinm@ummhc.org
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhawan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018321:Neurothekeoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor