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Wakefield CB, Sadow PM, Hornick JL, Fletcher CDM, Barletta JA, Anderson WJ. PEComa of the Adrenal Gland: A Clinicopathologic Series of 7 Cases. Am J Surg Pathol 2023; 47:1316-1324. [PMID: 37545320 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000002097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
PEComas are a family of mesenchymal neoplasms composed of histologically distinctive perivascular epithelioid cells which demonstrate myomelanocytic differentiation. PEComas of the adrenal gland are very rare and can represent a considerable diagnostic challenge given their morphologic overlap with more common adrenal cortical neoplasms. We present the clinicopathologic features of 7 primary adrenal PEComas. The cohort comprised 5 male and 2 female patients with a median age of 63 years (range: 31 to 71 y). One patient had Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome and another had Lynch syndrome; however, none had a history of tuberous sclerosis complex. Histologically, tumors showed nested and/or sheet-like growth and epithelioid cytomorphology with pale-to-eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. Two tumors had an admixed spindle cell component. There was a median of 4 mitoses per 10 HPFs (range: 0 to 8). Necrosis was present in 4 tumors and lymphovascular invasion in 1. Four tumors were classified as malignant. By immunohistochemistry, tumors were positive for HMB-45 (3/7), MITF (3/3), Melan-A (3/7), smooth muscle actin (5/7), desmin (5/7), and caldesmon (1/1). Two tumors were positive for TFE3 (2/4). Inhibin and SF1 were negative in all tumors assessed (0/6). Of 3 patients with available clinical follow-up information, 1 patient developed locally recurrent and metastatic disease (at 18 mo) and was alive with persistent disease at the last follow-up. Two patients had no recurrent or metastatic disease at the last follow-up (60 and 25 mo). Although PEComas of the adrenal gland are rare, pathologists need to be alert to this entity in the differential diagnosis of primary adrenocortical neoplasms. In suspected cases, the judicious use of melanocytic and smooth muscle markers, in addition to TFE3 and markers of adrenocortical differentiation (such as SF1 and inhibin) can assist in diagnosis. As in PEComas arising at other visceral sites, an association with tuberous sclerosis complex seems to be uncommon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig B Wakefield
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | - Peter M Sadow
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Jason L Hornick
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | | | - Justine A Barletta
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | - William J Anderson
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
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Battistella E, Pomba L, Mirabella M, Gregianin M, Scapinello A, Volante M, Toniato A. Metastatic Adrenal PEComa: Case Report and Short Review of the Literature. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:medicina59010149. [PMID: 36676773 PMCID: PMC9866888 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59010149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
PEComa has become a widely accepted entity, and increased recognition has led to descriptions of this tumor in a wide variety of anatomic sites, including the adrenal gland. PEComa (perivascular epithelioid cell tumor) is a mesenchymal tumor composed of perivascular cells, and the most frequent sites of PEComas are the uterus and retroperitoneum. The incidence is <1 per 1,000,000 people. We report a case of adrenal metastatic PEComa in a 63-year-old man discovered by a spontaneous hematoma of the rectus abdominis. In our case, PEComa of the adrenal gland was a significant diagnostic dilemma as the morphologic and immunophenotypic features of this neoplasm may easily be confused with those of other more commonly encountered lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Battistella
- Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padua, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Luca Pomba
- Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Marica Mirabella
- Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Michele Gregianin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Antonio Scapinello
- Pathology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Volante
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Via Giuseppe Verdi 8, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Antonio Toniato
- Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padua, Italy
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Liew AN, Naqash N, Arachchi A, Simpson I, Slavin J. Diagnostic dilemma for an adrenal mass: perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm versus adrenocortical carcinoma. ANZ J Surg 2021; 91:2207-2209. [PMID: 33547853 DOI: 10.1111/ans.16648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amos N Liew
- Department of Surgery, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Niyaz Naqash
- Department of Surgery, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Asiri Arachchi
- Department of Surgery, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ian Simpson
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John Slavin
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Xu J, Yan Y, Xiang X, Jiang P, Hu X, Yang W. Gastric Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa). Am J Clin Pathol 2019; 152:221-229. [PMID: 31141597 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqz040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To review the clinicopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular features of gastric perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa). METHODS We identified two new cases of gastric PEComa and summarized the clinical and pathologic characteristics of this rare neoplasm. RESULTS The first case was a 48-year-old woman who was treated with an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and the second case was a 64-year-old man who received a distal gastrectomy. Microscopic examination showed one tumor was composed of purely epithelioid cells, while the other was composed of epithelioid and spindle cells. Both tumors were immunoreactive for melanocytic markers (HMB45 and Melan-A), smooth muscle actin, and vimentin. No TFE3 gene rearrangement was identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization in either case. CONCLUSIONS Gastric PEComa is an exceedingly rare neoplasm, with only seven other reported cases to date. We are the first to report the results of molecular assays for the TFE3 gene rearrangement associated with gastric PEComa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghong Xu
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu Yan
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueping Xiang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Peter Jiang
- University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville
| | - Xiangrong Hu
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjun Yang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
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Hatfield BS, Mochel MC, Smith SC. Mesenchymal Neoplasms of the Genitourinary System: A Selected Review with Recent Advances in Clinical, Diagnostic, and Molecular Findings. Surg Pathol Clin 2018; 11:837-876. [PMID: 30447845 DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchymal neoplasms of the genitourinary (GU) tract often pose considerable diagnostic challenges due to their wide morphologic spectrum, relative rarity, and unexpected incidence at GU sites. Soft tissue tumors arise throughout the GU tract, whether from adventitia surrounding or connective tissues within the kidneys, urinary bladder, and male and female genital organs. This selected article focuses on a subset of these lesions, ranging from benign to malignant and encompassing a range of patterns of mesenchymal differentiation, where recent scholarship has lent greater insight into their clinical, molecular, or diagnostic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce Shawn Hatfield
- Department of Pathology, VCU School of Medicine, 1200 East Marshall Street, PO Box 980662, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Mark Cameron Mochel
- Department of Pathology, VCU School of Medicine, 1200 East Marshall Street, PO Box 980662, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Steven Christopher Smith
- Departments of Pathology and Urology, VCU School of Medicine, 1200 East Marshall Street, PO Box 980662, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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Hung YP, Hornick JL. Immunohistochemical Biomarkers of Mesenchymal Neoplasms in Endocrine Organs: Diagnostic Pitfalls and Recent Discoveries. Endocr Pathol 2018; 29:189-198. [PMID: 29340997 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-018-9513-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal neoplasms rarely present in or adjacent to endocrine organs. In this context, the recognition of these rare tumor types can be challenging, with significant potential for misdiagnosis as sarcomatoid carcinomas (i.e., anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and sarcomatoid adrenal cortical carcinoma) or neuroendocrine carcinomas, depending upon the dominant histologic patterns. In this review, we address potential pitfalls in diagnosing selected mesenchymal neoplasms arising within or near endocrine organs, including dedifferentiated liposarcoma, synovial sarcoma, angiosarcoma, PEComa, proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and neuroblastoma. For each of these tumor types, we review clinical and pathologic features, histologic clues to distinguish them from endocrine neoplasms, and recently developed immunohistochemical markers that can be particularly useful for establishing the correct diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin P Hung
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jason L Hornick
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Pant L, Kalita D, Chopra R, Das A, Jain G. Malignant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa) of the Adrenal Gland: Report of a Rare Case Posing Diagnostic Challenge with the Role of Immunohistochemistry in the Diagnosis. Endocr Pathol 2015; 26:129-34. [PMID: 25724713 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-015-9360-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Histological diagnosis of adrenal tumors is often challenging as diverse groups of tumors, both primaries and metastatic, may be seen in the adrenal gland with overlapping morphological features. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays the most important role in their diagnosis. Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), a rarely reported tumor in the adrenal gland, shares many features with another rare tumor sarcomatoid adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Extensive immunohistochemical study is required to distinguish this tumor from adrenocortical carcinoma and from other morphologically similar tumors. The unique combination of immunoreactivity for melanocytic markers, such as HMB-45 and Melan A, and myogenic markers, such as smooth muscle actin, is the hallmark of PEComas biological behavior, and prognosis of malignant PEComas is yet to be fully understood. Few cases of malignant PEComa have been reported in the adrenal gland. We report a case of malignant PEComa of the adrenal gland posing diagnostic challenge and compare its morphological and immunohistochemical features with those of sarcomatoid ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leela Pant
- Department of Pathology, North DMC Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi, 110007, India
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Papathomas TG, de Krijger RR, Tischler AS. Paragangliomas: update on differential diagnostic considerations, composite tumors, and recent genetic developments. Semin Diagn Pathol 2013; 30:207-23. [PMID: 24144290 DOI: 10.1053/j.semdp.2013.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments in molecular genetics have expanded the spectrum of disorders associated with pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and extra-adrenal paragangliomas (PGLs) and have increased the roles of pathologists in helping to guide patient care. At least 30% of these tumors are now known to be hereditary, and germline mutations of at least 10 genes are known to cause the tumors to develop. Genotype-phenotype correlations have been identified, including differences in tumor distribution, catecholamine production, and risk of metastasis, and types of tumors not previously associated with PCC/PGL are now considered in the spectrum of hereditary disease. Important new findings are that mutations of succinate dehydrogenase genes SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, and SDHAF2 (collectively "SDHx") are responsible for a large percentage of hereditary PCC/PGL and that SDHB mutations are strongly correlated with extra-adrenal tumor location, metastasis, and poor prognosis. Further, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and renal tumors are now associated with SDHx mutations. A PCC or PGL caused by any of the hereditary susceptibility genes can present as a solitary, apparently sporadic, tumor, and substantial numbers of patients presenting with apparently sporadic tumors harbor occult germline mutations of susceptibility genes. Current roles of pathologists are differential diagnosis of primary tumors and metastases, identification of clues to occult hereditary disease, and triaging of patients for optimal genetic testing by immunohistochemical staining of tumor tissue for the loss of SDHB and SDHA protein. Diagnostic pitfalls are posed by morphological variants of PCC/PGL, unusual anatomic sites of occurrence, and coexisting neuroendocrine tumors of other types in some hereditary syndromes. These pitfalls can be avoided by judicious use of appropriate immunohistochemical stains. Aside from loss of staining for SDHB, criteria for predicting risk of metastasis are still controversial, and "malignancy" is diagnosed only after metastases have occurred. All PCCs/PGLs are considered to pose some risk of metastasis, and long-term follow-up is advised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Papathomas
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Malignant PEComa of the adrenal gland. Pathol Res Pract 2012; 208:113-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2011.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2011] [Revised: 11/02/2011] [Accepted: 11/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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de Krijger RR, Papathomas TG. Adrenocortical neoplasia: evolving concepts in tumorigenesis with an emphasis on adrenal cortical carcinoma variants. Virchows Arch 2012; 460:9-18. [PMID: 22086150 PMCID: PMC3267029 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-011-1166-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2011] [Revised: 09/28/2011] [Accepted: 10/31/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, heterogeneous malignancy with a poor prognosis. According to WHO classification 2004, ACC variants include oncocytic ACCs, myxoid ACCs and ACCs with sarcomatous areas. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of these rare subtypes of adrenocortical malignancy and emphasize their clinicopathological features with the aim of elucidating aspects of diagnostic categorization, differential diagnostics and biological behavior. The issue of current terminology, applied to biphasic tumors with pleomorphic, sarcomatous or sarcomatoid elements arising in adrenal cortex, is also discussed. We additionally present emerging evidence concerning the adrenal cortical tumorigenesis and the putative adenoma-carcinoma sequence as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald R. de Krijger
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC—University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas G. Papathomas
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC—University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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