title: Cutaneous syncytial myoepithelioma:: Clinico-pathological features and differential diagnosis.
abstract: Cutaneous syncytial myoepithelioma (CSM) is a very rare tumor belonging to the spectrum of skin myoepithelial lesions. CSM usually affects the upper extremities of young to middle aged patients and is characterized by peculiar morphological and immunohistochemical features. Unlike classic myoepithelioma, CSM is composed by a densely packed proliferation of spindled to histiocytoid cells, which are variably positive for EMA, S100, SMA, and frequently negative for cytokeratins and GFAP. The peculiar histopathology and the extreme rarity of such lesion (less than 40 cases reported in the literature) can make the diagnosis of CSM a true challenge. In the present case, we report the clinico-pathological features of a primary CSM occurring in a 38 year-old Caucasian man. The differential diagnoses of such lesion are also briefly discussed.
authors: Surgical Pathology & Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: marcopizzi2002@yahoo.it.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Pizzi
authors: Clinic of Plastic Surgery, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Facchin
authors: Clinic of Plastic Surgery, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Kohlscheen
authors: Plastic Surgery Unit, Sant'Anna Hospital, Como, Italy.
authors: Leonardo
authors: L
authors: Sartore
authors: Surgical Pathology & Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Salmaso
authors: Clinic of Plastic Surgery, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Bassetto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Myoepithelial tumors; Skin tumors; Soft tissue tumors; Syncytial myoepithelioma