1/4 SM Musculoskelet Disord 5: 4
SM Musculoskeletal Disorders
ISSN: 2576-5442
Submitted: 23 November 2021 | Accepted: 20 December 2021 |
Published: 23 December 2021
*Corresponding author: Jefery Summers Jr.*, Department of Pathology,
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, USA
Copyright: © 2021 Summers J Jr., et al. This is an open-access article
distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Summers J Jr., Allison E, Millon J, Wallace A, Jahoda J, et al.
(2021) Low Grade Myofbroblastic Sarcoma of the Bone with Recurrence
as a High Grade Sarcoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature. SM
Musculoskelet Disord 5: 4.
Low Grade Myofibroblastic Sarcoma of the Bone
with Recurrence as a High Grade Sarcoma: Case
Report and Review of the Literature
Jefery Summers Jr.*, Elizabeth Allison, Jasmin Millon, Alec Wallace, Jessica Jahoda, Corey
Steinman, Qi Yangyang, Mohamed Aziz MD
Department of Pathology, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, USA
Abstract
High-grade myofbroblastic sarcoma (HGMS) is a rare malignancy characterized by a high rate of recurrence and metastasis. This form
of malignancy tends to be indolent in nature and patients’ initial complaints are usually a painless mass. In this report, we present a case of
a 40-year-old male who was initially evaluated for a left knee mass. Imaging studies and biopsy evaluation concluded the diagnosis of low-
grade myofbroblastic sarcoma of the distal femur and surrounding soft tissue. Despite adherence to current treatment standards for this
particular malignancy, the patient experienced recurrence requiring further surgical intervention, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Recurrent tumor was in the form of high-grade myofbroblastic sarcoma. After exhausting all available treatment options, the patient expired
secondary to multi-organ failure associated with widespread metastases. In this report, we discuss how to diferentiate this sarcoma from
other types of sarcomas and provide a brief review of the literature.
Keywords: Myofbroblastic; Low grade; High grade; Recurrence; Chemotherapy
Abbreviation
LGMS: Low grade myofibroblastic sarcoma, HGMS:
High-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma, MS: Myofibroblastic
sarcomas, IMT: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, IHC:
Immunohistochemistry, MFH: malignant fibrous histiocytoma
Introduction
Myofibroblastic sarcomas (MS) are rare malignancies that
have been better understood over the last few years; however,
clearly defined diagnostic criteria have not been well developed
(1). Myofibroblasts are defined as modified fibroblasts that are
short, bi-or tripolar spindle-shaped or stellate cells, with a single,
small, wavy or ovoid pale-staining nucleus with only a small
amount of cytoplasm. Myofibroblasts have a contractile element
and can synthesize collagens and other stromal components,
including fibronectin and laminin. They are naturally part of
the stroma of various tissues, including testicular peritubular
stroma, the periodontal ligament, as well as inflammatory
and reparative granulation tissue; however, they are also the
principal cell type in some reactive and neoplastic soft-tissue
lesions (2). These neoplasms, termed myofibroblastic sarcomas,
are rare and typically originate throughout the body including
the head, neck extremities and trunk and are classified based on
their morphological characteristics into low, intermediate, and
high grade (3).
The current classification system for myofibroblastic sarcomas
can be regarded as low, intermediate, and high-grade (4). Low
grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) are infiltrative tumors,
usually located within deep soft tissue, and have a predilection
for the head and neck region. These tumors display varied
microscopic appearances, from fasciitis-like to fibrosarcoma-like,
but they all, at least focally, display nuclear pleomorphism (3).
However, no recurrent cytogenetic or molecular markers have
been described thus far (5). LGMS express smooth-muscle actin
and calponin, some express desmin, and most lack h-caldesmon.
These sarcomas can recur but rarely metastasize. Inflammatory
myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) and infantile fibrosarcomas can
be regarded as two additional LGMS, which are usually seen in
younger patients. IMTs typically arise in locations including the
lung, retroperitoneum or mesentery (3). LGMS invade locally and
are known to progress to high-grade sarcoma (6).
LGMS are distinct from High-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma
(HGMS), also called pleomorphic myofibrosarcoma, which
are malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH)-like tumors. These
are more frequently Actin positive than other MFH tumors
(3). HGMS is diagnosed by cytomorphological analysis and
immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies and has higher recurrence
and metastatic rates than low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma
(7). A study of HGMS found that 29% of these tumors recurred,
71% metastasized, and 43% of patients died of disease. When
compared with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas, HGMS
differentiation has better prognosis. Still, HGMS is a more
aggressive tumor and has a worse prognosis than LGMS (3).
Case Report
© Summers J Jr., et al., 2021