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.
Department of Pathology, Nihon University, Nerima Hikarigaoka Hospital, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 179-0072, Japan. ahemmi@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Akihiro
A
Hemmi
Shunzo
S
Osaka
Keishin
K
Sunagawa
Kentaro
K
Kikuchi
Nobuhiko
N
Ohno
Nobuo
N
Terada
Yasuhisa
Y
Fujii
Shinichi
S
Ohno
Norimichi
N
Nemoto
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