Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma occurring at distal/acral extremity sites: clinicopathological and molecular study of 26 cases highlighting frequent myxoid histology and site-dependent genotypic variation
Recommended Citation
Agaimy A, Molligan J, Alruwaii FI, Antonescu CR, Demicco EG, Dickson BC, Gross J, Michal M, Perry K, Tögel L, Stoehr R, Din NU, and Folpe AL. Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma occurring at distal/acral extremity sites: clinicopathological and molecular study of 26 cases highlighting frequent myxoid histology and site-dependent genotypic variation. Virchows Arch 2025.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2025
Publication Title
Virchows Archiv
Abstract
Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm of borderline malignancy (locally recurring, rarely metastasizing), most often involving the limbs, trunk, and head/neck. Rarely, AFH may involve unusual locations. Herein, we characterize the clinicopathologic features of 26 AFH of the distal extremities, including acral sites. The tumors occurred in 19 females and 7 males ranging in age from 12 to 76 years (median, 23 years). Tumors involved the upper (n = 19) and lower (n = 6) distal extremity; one affected an unspecified digital site. Twenty-two cases occurred in acral locations (hands and feet). Subsets of cases showed the following morphologic features: multinodular architecture (26/26), lymphoid cuffs (23/26), prominent stromal myxoid change (11/25), angiomatoid features (9/26), and cytologic pleomorphism (8/26). The average mitotic count was 1/10 HPF; 3 cases showed brisk mitotic activity (> 10 mitoses/10 HPF). Immunohistochemistry revealed variable expression of desmin (16/25), EMA (14/21) and ALK (5/8). Molecular testing revealed EWSR1 rearrangements in 17/18 cases (94%). Among 12 tumors with known fusion partners, the fusions partner was CREB1 in 6 cases (50%), CREM in 4 tumors (33%), ATF1 in one tumor (8%) and PBX3 (8%) in another tumor. Prominent myxoid features were noted in 75% CREM versus 33% of CREB1 versus 0% of ATF1-fused tumors. AFH occurring in distal extremity/acral locations have a predilection for females, upper extremity locations, frequent unusual (solid, non-angiomatoid and myxoid) morphology and higher frequency of CREM over ATF1 fusions. Awareness of the morphologic spectrum of these rare neoplasms is essential for correct classification.
PubMed ID
40748380
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
