Histiocytic sarcoma with secondary involvement of the skin and expression of CD1a: evidence of indeterminate cell differentiation?

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Histiocytic sarcoma is an exceedingly rare malignant neoplasm composed of cells with a monocyte/macrophage phenotype. In the current nosology of histiocytic neoplasms, histiocytic sarcoma is separate from indeterminate cell histiocytosis, a generally benign disorder characterized by proliferation of a CD1a+ and S-100+ population of cells lacking Birbeck granules usually limited to the skin.

METHODS:

We present a case of histiocytic sarcoma in a 64-year-old man presenting as a peritonsillar mass and secondarily involving the skin.

RESULTS:

The malignant cells in the extracutaneous foci of disease expressed macrophage-associated antigens including S-100 but were CD1a-. The malignant cells in the skin coexpressed CD1a and S-100 but lacked ultrastructural features of Langerhans cells, findings indicative of indeterminate cells.

CONCLUSIONS:

We discuss the clinical and histopathologic differential diagnosis in association with prior reported cases of histiocytic sarcoma, particularly in cases involving the skin and cases expressing the Langerhans cell-associated antigen CD1a.

• Authors: John L Frater, Christopher W Kling, Joseph M Obadiah, Laura J Gardner, Leonard E Grosso, Brooke Resh, M Yadira Hurley
• Journal: Journal of cutaneous pathology (J Cutan Pathol) Vol. 33 Issue 6 Pg. 437-42 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 0303-6987 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16776720 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD1
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CD1a antigen
• Bleomycin
• Vincristine
• Etoposide
• Doxorubicin
• Cyclophosphamide
• Prednisone

Topics

• Antigens, CD1 (metabolism)
• Antigens, Neoplasm (metabolism)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Bleomycin (administration & dosage)
• Cell Proliferation
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
• Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
• Cyclophosphamide (administration & dosage)
• Doxorubicin (administration & dosage)
• Etoposide (administration & dosage)
• Histiocytes (metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Prednisone (administration & dosage)
• Sarcoma (metabolism, secondary, therapy)
• Skin Neoplasms (metabolism, secondary, therapy)
• Tonsillar Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology, therapy)
• Vincristine (administration & dosage)