Histologic spectrum of neurothekeoma and the value of immunoperoxidase staining for S-100 protein in distinguishing it from melanoma.

Abstract

Neurothekeoma, a benign cutaneous lesion of probable nerve sheath origin, is divided histologically into two subtypes--myxoid and cellular. However, we believe that neurothekeoma encompasses a wider spectrum of lesions, with the myxoid and cellular subtypes falling at either end of the morphologic spectrum. Because the cellular variant of neurothekeoma sometimes resembles melanoma, it presents a difficult diagnostic problem. We report the histologic and immunohistochemical findings in 14 cases of neurothekeoma and review the findings in 35 additional cases from the literature. A detailed analysis of the histologic spectrum is also included. When examined by immunostains, only the myxoid variants of neurothekeoma stain positively for S-100 protein. We conclude that when the histological differential diagnosis is between cellular neurothekeoma and melanoma, an S-100-positive lesion should be regarded as melanoma.

• Authors: S Husain, D N Silvers, A J Halperin, N S McNutt
• Journal: The American Journal of dermatopathology (Am J Dermatopathol) Vol. 16 Issue 5 Pg. 496-503 (Oct 1994) ISSN: 0193-1091 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7528475 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Mucin-1
• Mucins
• Myelin Basic Protein
• Neoplasm Proteins
• S100 Proteins
• Collagen
• Transglutaminases

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Cell Nucleus (ultrastructure)
• Child, Preschool
• Collagen
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Male
• Melanoma (pathology)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (analysis)
• Middle Aged
• Mucin-1
• Mucins (analysis)
• Myelin Basic Protein (analysis)
• Neoplasm Proteins (analysis)
• Neurothekeoma (pathology)
• S100 Proteins (analysis)
• Skin Neoplasms (pathology)
• Staining and Labeling
• Transglutaminases (analysis)