Solitary fibrous tumor arising from pelvic retroperitoneum: A report of two cases and a review of the literature

Malignant retroperitoneal solitary fibrous tumor co-existing with Meigs' syndrome: A case report

Malignant solitary fibrous tumors in the retroperitoneum are rare, and their treatment strategies have not yet been established. A 61-year-old woman with dyspnea underwent laparotomy under a presumptive diagnosis of Meigs' syndrome. She underwent both adnexectomy and retroperitoneal tumor excision. The histologic diagnosis was of a fibrothecoma of both ovaries and a retroperitoneal solitary fibrous tumor that was considered malignant based on its mitotic activity. Local recurrence was observed 9 months postoperatively; re-excision was performed, and radiation therapy was administered. Four months later, metastasis to the left lung was detected, and a thoracoscopic resection was performed. Although pazopanib was administered subsequently, it was discontinued after 11 months because of proteinuria. She complained of dysphagia 3 weeks after the withdrawal of the drug, and a metastatic tumor was observed at the cranial base. Radiotherapy was initiated; however, she died of the disease 35 months after the primary surgery. Medical guidelines should be established for malignant solitary fibrous tumors to improve patient prognosis.

Diagnosis and management of an extremely rare solitary fibrous tumor in the retropubic space of Retzius: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs), rare mesenchymal tumors, occur in diverse locations. Retroperitoneal and pelvic SFTs are extremely uncommon, challenging to identify due to vague clinical and radiological features. We present a high-risk SFT case in the retropubic Retzius space.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 56-year-old woman with diabetes and bronchial carcinoid tumor had abdominal pain. Physical exam revealed hypogastric and pelvic masses. MRI showed a 16.5x12x8cm mass near the bladder. Initial laparotomy deemed it unresectable; biopsy indicated grade 2 FNCLCC mesenchymal tumor. In a second surgery, a 20 cm mass was successfully removed from the Retzius space. Histopathology confirmed SFT. Due to vaginal involvement, adjuvant radiotherapy was given. After 12 months, clinical and radiological follow-up showed remission. Unusual SFT location and successful treatment highlight the importance of comprehensive assessment and multidisciplinary approach in managing these rare tumors.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms, often found in extremities but seldom in the abdomen. Diagnosis is challenging due to vague symptoms and imaging. This case discusses an unusual SFT location in the pelvic space, requiring surgical removal. SFTs are typically benign but can be malignant, requiring wide resection and potential adjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosing SFTs can be difficult because of their non-specific clinical and radiological characteristics, but imaging studies and biopsies can aid in the diagnosis. The preferred treatment for SFTs is surgical removal with clear margins, and regular follow-up is essential to watch for any signs of recurrence.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic removal of an extraperitoneal pelvic solitary fibrous tumor

•Pelvic SFTs are rare, typically benign soft tissue neoplasms that pose a diagnostic challenge for gynecologists.•Retroperitoneal pelvic SFTs can mimic gynecologic malignancies and should be considered in diagnosis of a solitary pelvic mass.•Pathologic diagnosis is typically confirmed by immunohistochemistry staining positively for CD34 and STAT6.•Complete surgical excision is recommended for these tumors and can be completed with a minimally invasive approach.•Close long-term follow-up is necessary due to possible recurrence or metastasis, especially for high-risk pathologic features.

Multidisciplinary treatment of giant presacral solitary fibrous tumour: a case report and literature review

Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) usually occur at the pleura. Extrapleural sites, particularly giant extrapleural solitary fibromas, are more rarely observed in the clinic, and the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease is a focus of attention. Herein, the case of a 43-year-old male patient with giant presacral SFT successfully treated by open surgery, and with a final diagnosis confirmed by postoperative pathology and immunohistochemistry, is reported. The patient was followed-up regularly during 5 years after surgery, with no obvious surgical complications, and no tumour recurrence noted on pelvic magnetic resonance imaging. This case provides clinical information that may help in the diagnosis and treatment of complex SFT.

Rare Mesenchymal Tumors of the Pelvis: Imaging and Pathologic Correlation

Most pelvic tumors originate from the organs. Less commonly, tumors can arise from the various anatomic pelvic compartments and are comprised of mesenchymal tissue: muscles, connective tissue, vessels, lymphatics, and fat. Among some of the rarer entities are benign tumors (eg, angiomyxoma, cellular angiofibroma, and desmoid fibromatosis), malignant tumors (eg, sarcoma), and tumors that can manifest as benign or malignant (eg, solitary fibrous tumor or nerve sheath tumor). Because these tumors are uncommon and often manifest with nonspecific clinical features, imaging (usually MRI) is an initial step in the evaluation. Radiologists interpreting these images are asked to help narrow the differential diagnosis and assess the likelihood of malignancy for treatment planning. Thus, the MRI report should include the imaging features that would indicate the underlying tissue histology for pathologic diagnosis as well as a description of the anatomic extent and pattern of growth. The authors describe multiple locally aggressive benign and malignant mesenchymal tumors and highlight characteristic clinical and imaging features that enable the radiologist to narrow the differential diagnosis. The anatomic spaces of the pelvis are reviewed with illustrations to aid the radiologist in describing these tumors, which often span multiple pelvic compartments. Tumor appearance at T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and postcontrast MRI is summarized and illustrated with correlation at CT or fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT, when available. MRI features that correspond to specific types of tissue (eg, myxoid, fibrous, or vascular) are highlighted and correlated with images from pathologic evaluation. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2021.

An abdominal-sacral approach with preoperative embolisation for vulvar solitary fibrous tumour: a case report

Background

Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) in the female genital tract are uncommon. Resection of these tumours is controversial because it can cause life-threatening haemorrhage. We report a case of vulvar SFT that was excised in a combined abdominal-sacral approach after preoperative embolisation.

Case presentation

At another hospital, an inoperable intrapelvic tumour was diagnosed in a 34-year-old woman. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the uterus, urinary bladder and rectum were compressed laterally by a pelvic tumour with a maximum diameter of 11 cm. This mass was hypervascular and had a well-defined border. Transperineal biopsy was performed, and immunostaining revealed that the mass was an SFT. The tumour was supplied by feeding vessels from the right iliac arteries. First, we embolised the feeding vessels. Second, we performed surgical resection in a combined abdominal-sacral approach; no blood transfusion was necessary, and no perioperative complications occurred. The final pathological diagnosis was SFT that was positive for CD34 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 according to immunohistochemical staining.

Conclusion

During a year of follow-up, the disease did not recur. Treatment of pelvic SFT should aim at complete resection through various approaches after careful measures are taken to prevent haemorrhage.

Angioleiomyoma of the lumbo-sacral region with unusual keloid-like collagen fibers

Angioleiomyoma is a benign soft tissue tumor which usually occurs in superficial or deep soft tissues. Only rarely does this tumor occur at unusual sites, including retroperitoneum. We present a rare case of lumbo-sacral angioleiomyoma in a 54-year-old man. Apart from this unusual site, the most striking morphological feature was the presence of numerous keloid-like collagen fibers interspersed among the fascicles of the neoplastic cells. Radiological, morphological and immunohistochemical features are presented, and differential diagnosis with its potential morphological mimickers is discussed.

Solitary fibrous tumor with atypical features of the paravesical space: benign clinical course at the 10-years follow-up. Report of a case and review of the literature

Extra-pleural solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a relatively rare soft tissue neoplasm, with only rare cases reported in the pelvic cavity. Most SFTs are histologically benign, with only a few malignant cases reported in the literature so far. We report a rare case of SFT arising in the paravesical space of a 79-year-old man. Histologically the tumor corresponds to an “intermediate risk tumor” according to a risk stratification scheme for metastatic potential, which incorporates patient age, tumor size, mitotic activity and necrosis. Notably tumor showed a benign clinical course without evidence of local recurrence after a 10-years follow-up. Tumor was composed of both spindle and epithelioid cells variably set in a fibro-myxoid stroma, with focal pleomorphic, necrotic and highly mitotic (> 4 mitoses/10HPF) areas. Immunohistochemistry, showing a diffuse CD34 and STAT6 immunoreactivity, supported the diagnosis of SFT. The present case emphasizes that the clinical course of the pelvic SFTs with atypical morphological features is unpredictable on the basis of morphology alone, and thus the term “SFT with atypical features, including the risk stratification class” should be preferred to “malignant SFT”.

Retroperitoneal Sarcomas: An Update on the Diagnostic Pathology Approach

Retroperitoneal sarcomas are a heterogenous group of rare tumors arising in the retroperitoneum. Retroperitoneal sarcomas comprise approximately 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Though any soft tissue sarcoma histologic types may arise in the retroperitoneal space, liposarcoma (especially well-differentiated and dedifferentiated types) and leiomyosarcoma do so most commonly. Retroperitoneal sarcomas are diagnostically challenging, owing to their diversity and morphological overlap with other tumors arising in the retroperitoneum. An accurate diagnosis is necessary for correct management and prognostication. Herein, we provide an update on the diagnostic approach to retroperitoneal sarcomas and review their key histologic findings and differential diagnoses.

Controversial issues in soft tissue solitary fibrous tumors: A pathological and molecular review

The clinical evolution of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) remains unclear. Although various clinical, morphological and molecular criteria may indicate increased risk of malignancy, some SFT can still progress despite having a clearly benign appearance. Various risk stratification systems have been proposed, but unfortunately they are not sufficient to precisely determine the malignant potential. In this review, we discuss current knowledge on SFT, focusing on the following controversial issues: (i) the diverse morphologic spectrum: 'the great simulator;' (ii) malignant transformation or dedifferentiation; (iii) current risk stratification systems; and (iv) molecular factors associated with clinical evolution. The morphological spectrum of SFT and the list of differential diagnoses continue to expand. Both have increased considerably since the first descriptions of specific molecular alterations. A classification of malignant SFT should not be based on histology alone. The correlation of all pathological and molecular factors is recommended; its inclusion in risk stratification systems may help to improve diagnosis and prognosis.