Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma: a study using a quick-freezing and deep-etching method.
A case of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (ESMC), which developed in the right thigh of a middle-aged Japanese woman, was studied using immunohistochemistry, conventional electron microscopy, and the quick-freezing and deep-etching (QF-DE) method. In addition to typical light microscopic findings of ESMC, conventional electron microscopy indicated that the tumor cells had features of chondrocytes. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells showed a positive immunoreaction for S100 protein. A diagnosis of ESMC was made. An interesting observation was the ultrastructural features of collagen fibrils in the myxoid matrix highlighted by the QF-DE method. These collagen fibrils consisted of relatively thin collagen (20-35 nm) with pleated surface structures. The surface striation at 65 nm was obscure. We consider that such a finding of collagen fibrils identified by the QF-DE method is one of the characteristics of the myxoid matrix of ESMC, and this is useful for the differential diagnosis of myxoid soft tissue tumors.
Hemmi
Akihiro
A
Department of Pathology, Nihon University, Nerima Hikarigaoka Hospital, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 179-0072, Japan. ahemmi@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Osaka
Shunzo
S
Sunagawa
Keishin
K
Kikuchi
Kentaro
K
Ohno
Nobuhiko
N
Terada
Nobuo
N
Fujii
Yasuhisa
Y
Ohno
Shinichi
S
Nemoto
Norimichi
N
D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005613:Freeze Etching / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013848:Thigh / Q000473:pathology