title: Soft tissue myoepithelial carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myoepitheliomas are tumors composed predominantly or exclusively of myoepithelial cells, usually arising in salivary glands. Cutaneous/soft tissue localization is very rare, especially for the malignant myoepitheliomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We presented a case of myoepithelial carcinoma involving subcutaneous adipose tissue of the left forearm in a woman aged 62 years. The tumor was composed of epithelioid and hyaline cell types, arranged in diffuse sheets, nests and loose clusters within hyalinized and myxoid matrix. The neoplasm displayed high-grade cytologic atypia with some cells having pleomorphic, hyperchromatic nuclei, and others showing vesicular nuclei, large nucleoli with scattered bizarre giant cells. High mean mitotic count of 7 mitoses/10 high power filds and extensive necrosis favoured the diagnosis of malignancy. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), epithelial membrane antigen, S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and vimentin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the subcutaneous localization, myoepithelial immunophenotype and high-grade cytologic atypia the neoplasm was classified as a soft-tissue myoepithelial carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. zstoj@infosky.net
authors.forename: Zorica
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stojsić
authors.forename: Dimitrije
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brasanac
authors.forename: Dragoljub
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bacetić
authors.forename: Radmila
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Janković
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Drndarević
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000473:pathology*