Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma of bone: morphological, immunophenotypical, and molecular findings of 9 cases

Virchows Arch. 2021 Apr;478(4):767-777. doi: 10.1007/s00428-020-02953-y. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Abstract

Primary sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) of bone is a rare and scarcely reported neoplasm. We document clinicopathological and molecular features of 9 additional cases. Five males and 4 females had a mean age of 39 years (14-71 years). Most tumors affected flat/irregular bones; only 3 cases involved a long bone. By radiology, it has characteristic radiographic features of a predominantly lytic expansile lesion with a sclerotic rim. Referring diagnoses were SEF (n = 2), low-grade osteosarcoma (n = 2), chondrosarcoma (n = 1), and chondromyxoid fibroma (n = 1). Histologically, five cases revealed classical morphology of SEF of soft tissue. Remaining cases were classified as hybrid SEF/low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, characterized by spindle or stellate cells, prominent stroma, and giant hyalinized areas. Various morphological deviations such as prominent vasculature (n = 3), osteoid-like material (n = 4), or parallel bone trabeculae (n = 2) were observed. Immunohistochemically, all cases showed diffuse and strong MUC4 expression. SATB2 was observed in 5/8 cases. Using FISH, EWSR1, and FUS rearrangements were detected in 4 cases and 1 case, respectively. EWSR1-CREB3L1 fusion was identified in 1 additional case by next-generation sequencing. Recurrence and metastasis were observed in 1 case and 2 cases, respectively. All but one patient were alive with disease for a mean interval of 31 months. SEF of bone is a relatively indolent sarcoma of adults, most commonly located in the flat/irregular bones. Due to overlapping histological features, it is often misdiagnosed as osteosarcoma or a chondroid tumor. Most SEF of bone exhibit EWSR1 rearrangements, but rare cases may harbor a FUS gene fusion.

Keywords: Bone neoplasm; Bone tumor; EWSR1; EWSR1-CREB3L1; FUS; MUC4; Radiology; SATB2; Sarcoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Fibrosarcoma / diagnosis
  • Fibrosarcoma / genetics
  • Fibrosarcoma / metabolism
  • Fibrosarcoma / pathology*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Phenotype
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins
  • SATB2 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors