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Thanks to Dr. Saima Absar, Chughtai Lab Lahore (Pakistan) for contributing this case and Dr. Raul S. Gonzalez, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (USA) for writing the discussion. To contribute a Case of the Week, first make sure that we are currently accepting cases, then follow the guidelines on our main Case of the Week page.
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Pathologist
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (USA).
Large community and hospital-based pathology group with 17 pathologists.
Our practice includes: 600+ bed hospital with UCSF affiliated non-pathology residency training, 5 additional local and nearby hospitals, large outreach practice, molecular lab, and state of the art information system tools. Our AP laboratory is a separate building and privately owned.
With the retirement of two pathologists and one of our hospital affiliates expanding their territory we are looking to add a pathologist to our group with AP/CP boards to cover this hospital.
Preference will go to candidates with strong general pathology skills. AP/CP boarded or eligible and California state licensure is required. Excellent benefits and compensation. Partnership track opportunity.
Please visit our web site www.pathology-associates.com and hospital site
www.communitymedical.org.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter with their CV to:
Melissa Matthes
Director of Human Resources
Email: Mmatthes@pathology-associates.com
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Case of the Week #469
Clinical history:
A 45 year old man presented with a painless mass on his forehead, which was excised. The specimen consisted of 2 distorted tissue fragments, 5.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm and 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.0 cm. The largest was skin covered. Serial slicing revealed a firm white fibrotic cut surface.
Histopathology images:
What is your diagnosis?
Diagnosis:
Nuchal-type fibroma at extranuchal location
Test question (answer at the end):
Nearly half of patients with this lesion will also carry what diagnosis?
A. Diabetes mellitus
B. Hypertension
C. Proteinuria
D. Turcot syndrome
Special stains:
CD34
CD99
Discussion:
Nuchal-type fibroma is a benign, unencapsulated fibrocollagenous proliferation most commonly seen in the back of the neck in middle aged men, although it can occur in the extremities or other locations (Am J Surg Pathol 1995;19:313). Similar lesions with identical histology can occur throughout the body in patients with Gardner syndrome, which are termed Gardner-type fibromas.
Histologically, nuchal-type fibromas consist of dense, bland, markedly hypocellular collagen with sparse intermixed fibroblasts in no particular pattern. Other soft tissue entities may appear in the clinical differential diagnosis (Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2000;109:52) but the lesion is generally straightforward to diagnose histologically. Immunohistochemistry shows the fibroblasts are positive for CD34 and CD99 (Am J Surg Pathol 2001;25:970) and negative for smooth muscle actin. The collagen can expand into adjacent skeletal muscle, adipose tissue or dermis, entrapping adnexal structures or nerves, as seen in this case. Entrapped fat should not lead to the diagnosis of fibrolipoma, which is well circumscribed.
Nuchal-type fibromas are generally solitary and asymptomatic. They can grow to several centimeters in size, and patients tend to present several years after the lesion first becomes visible. They can rarely be multifocal (Ann Dermatol 2015;27:194). These lesions can recur if not entirely excised but malignant behavior has not been documented (Cancer 1999;85:156). Nearly half of patients have diabetes mellitus.
Test question answer:
A. Diabetes mellitus
