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Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma usually arising in the deep soft tissues of the limbs, trunk, and head and neck region. Due to its rarity, diagnosis can be difficult to establish, especially when it involves an uncommon location like the breast. In this case report, we describe a young woman who was found to have primary SS of the breast. Initial immunohistochemistry staining was focally positive for cytokeratin and S100 and she was misdiagnosed with atypical spindle cell carcinoma. Due to the unusual presentation, further testing was performed which showed TLE1 and epithelial membrane antigen positivity, establishing the diagnosis of SS of the breast. A FISH was later sent out and was positive for SS18-SSX fusion transcript. This case highlights the importance of considering rare histopathology in breast lesions and using additional staining and cytogenetics to confirm diagnosis.

Introduction: Metaplastic breast carcinoma is an uncommon malignancy that constitutes < 5% of all breast cancers. There are 5 subtypes which are spindle cell, squamous cell, carcinosarcoma, matrix-producing and metaplastic with osteoclastic giant cells. Spindle cell carcinoma represents approximately Case report: An elderly lady presented with an enlarging painful left breast lump for one year. Palpable left breast lump was found on clinical examination. Mammography demonstrated a high density, oval lesion with a partially indistinct margin. Corresponding ultrasound showed a large irregular heterogeneous lesion with solid-cystic areas. Histopathology showed atypical spindle-shaped cells that stained positive for cytokeratins and negative for hormone and human epidermal growth factor receptors, which favoured spindle cell metaplastic carcinoma. Left mastectomy and axillary dissection were performed, and the final diagnosis was consistent with metaplastic spindle cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare and aggressive histological type of carcinoma, which may present with benign features on imaging. Tissue diagnosis is essential for prompt diagnosis with multidisciplinary team discussion to guide management and improve patient’s outcomes.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas are a risk factor for the development of adenocarcinoma. However, the presence of a component of sarcomatoid carcinoma in the malignant tumor has rarely been described in the literature. A 30-year-old Chinese woman was admitted to our hospital with vague abdominal pain and a poor appetite for 2 months. Computed tomography revealed a huge, unilocular, solid-cystic mass in the pancreatic body, and tail. The patient underwent an en bloc resection of the distal pancreatic tumor with splenectomy and regional lymphadenectomy. Pathologic examination revealed an IPMN associated tubular adenocarcinoma containing a component of sarcomatoid (spindle-shaped cell) carcinoma. Immunohistochemical results revealed that the mononuclear spindle-shaped cells were positive for both pan-cytokeratin and vimentin. There was no evidence of perineural or vascular infiltration, lymph nodal metastasis, or positive surgical margins. The patient developed local recurrence 3 months after surgery for which she received chemoradiotherapy at another hospital. Distant metastases were detected 6 months after the surgery and the patient expired 9 months after surgical resection. We concluded that the presence of sarcomatoid change in IPMN-associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma may indicate poor prognosis.

Background Pulmonary spindle cell carcinoma (PSCC) is an extremely rare tumor that is highly malignant and fast-growing. As chemotherapy and radiation therapy are ineffective, early surgical resection is effective for PSCC. Case presentation A 70-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis was referred to our hospital with an abnormal shadow. Chest computed tomography revealed a 33-mm-wide lobular mass in the right upper lobe. She was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer by bronchoscopic smear cytology. Although staging evaluation indicated stage IIIB (T3N2M0) disease, she required continued administration of immunosuppressants and prednisolone for rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) right upper lobectomy followed by lymph node dissection was performed without preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Pathological findings revealed PSCC. Conclusions We report a very rare case of pulmonary spindle cell carcinoma, successfully resected with RATS.

Objectives Lymph node invasion (LNI) is related to long-term survival in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, in the case of variant histology (VH), data on pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) and LNI are sparse. We described the pattern of care of PLND in patients with VHs of bladder cancer, exploring predictors of LNI. Methods Using the 2001–2016 SEER registry, 20 767 bladder cancer patients who underwent PLND were identified. Included histological variants were pure urothelial carcinoma (UC), micropapillary UC, sarcomatoid UC, lymphoepithelioma-like UC, adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, giant and spindle cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and neuroendocrine tumor. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses tested for LNI predictors. Cox regression was used to test for predictors of overall mortality (OM) among both LNI positive and LNI negative patients. Results Overall, 2464 (11.9%) harbored a VH. On multivariate analysis, only micropapillary UC was associated with higher risk (OR = 3.39) of LNI. This association was maintained when only the subset of patients treated without perioperative chemotherapy were analyzed (OR = 3.30). Similarly, higher T stage (T2 stage OR = 2.24; T3–4 stage OR = 9.44) and the use of chemotherapy (OR = 2.29) were associated with a higher risk of LNI. Among patients with LNI (5299, 25.5%), SCC (HR = 1.87), T3–4 stage (HR = 1.94), age at diagnosis (HR = 1.01) and geographic region (south) (HR = 1.22) were predictors of higher risk of OM. Conversely, chemotherapy (HR = 0.69) and number of removed LN (HR = −0.99) were associated with lower risk of OM. Finally, in a subgroup of patients without LNI, sarcomatoid UC (HR = 1.58) and giant and spindle cell carcinoma (HR = 1.83) were the only VH predictors of OM. Conclusions We described different patterns of care in patients with VHs of bladder cancer. Micropapillary UC was an independent risk factor for LNI. Among patients harboring LNI, those with SCC VH had higher OM compared to pure UC. Conversely, sarcomatoid UC and giant and spindle cell carcinoma were predictors of OM in patients without nodal involvement.

To describe MR features of mucinous tubular spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC) of the kidney that may help differentiate from clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and papillary RCC (pRCC). 15 MTSCCs were retrospectively evaluated by MR with T2-weighted image without fat suppression (n = 15) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE), fat-suppressed T1-weighted GRE (n = 11). Size-matched ccRCC (n = 30) and pRCC (n = 30) were evaluated as control. T2 ratio was calculated as the signal intensity (SI) ratio of the lesion to the renal cortex on T2W images. Enhancement ratio (ER) was calculated as (SIpost − SIpre)/(SIpre), where SIpre (SIpost) is the SI of the entire lesion on each phase of DCE images. Early nodular enhancement was subjectively evaluated in MTSCC. T2 ratio and ER were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction. The mean value of T2 ratio was highest in ccRCC (1.24), followed by MTSCC (1.02), and pRCC (0.84). Difference of T2 ratio was significant between ccRCC and pRCC (p

A 52‐year‐old man underwent pneumonectomy of the left lung for previously diagnosed primary spindle cell carcinoma (pT4aN1M0, stage III B) with programmed death‐ligand 1 expression (tumor proportion score ≥95%) and without epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion gene. However, brain metastasis and chest wall tumor relapse occurred. Considering insufficient improvement with gamma knife treatment for brain metastasis and combination chemotherapy (paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab), pembrolizumab monotherapy and palliative irradiation therapy for chest metastases were started after brain tumor volume reduction using craniotomy. Brain edema and chest wall metastases markedly improved following a pseudoprogression of the brain edema accompanied by a performance status decline; this effect continued until 11 cycles of pembrolizumab administration., Lung spindle cell carcinoma has a poor prognosis and is usually resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Our findings suggest that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a novel therapeutic strategy for lung spindle cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Head and neck spindle cell carcinoma (HNSpCC) is a rare histological variant associated with worse outcomes. Our objective was to identify clinicopathological factors associated with survival in patients with HNSpCC compared to patients with conventional head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS Using clinical data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we performed a survival analysis in patients with HNSpCC or HNSCC between 2004 and 2016. RESULTS A total of 458 HNSpCC and 77 104 HNSCC were identified, including 17% and 16% female, respectively. Five-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 63.90% and 73.90% in patients with HNSpCC and HNSCC, respectively. Sex (hazard ratio [HR] for females = 2.816; CI: 1.139-6.965; p = 0.025) was significantly associated with DSS in HNSpCC while no association was observed between sex and DSS in HNSCC. CONCLUSION HNSpCC in women is a specific subgroup of HNSCC, which is associated with a poor prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Metastases are often detected at the first diagnosis. Despite high rates of distant metastasis, there is insufficient data describing the characteristics of PSC metastasis. METHODS: We performed a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database-based analysis of clinicopathological features and prognosis of distant metastasis in PSC patients. Data queried for this analysis included PSC patients in the database between 2010 and 2016. RESULTS: A total of 934 patients met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis and included, at the time of diagnosis, 512 (54.8%) patients with metastasis, including bone (n=152; 16.3%), brain (n=108; 11.6%), liver (n=70; 7.5%), lung (n=142; 15.2%) metastases. Binary logistic regression showed that patients with giant cell carcinoma [odds ratio (OR) 4.023, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.113–7.661, P

We herein report a rare coincidence and a possible association between laryngotracheal fungal infection and spindle cell carcinoma of the larynx (SpCC). A 79-year-old gentleman presented to the Emergency Department with manifestations of airway obstruction. Flexible nasendoscopy showed pooling of saliva around the larynx and his neck palpation did not show cervical lymphadenopathy. Further imaging showed bilateral transglottic mass mainly in the subglottis along with right pulmonary nodularity. Percutaneous tracheostomy, panendoscopy and biopsy of the laryngeal mass confirmed a diagnosis of SpCC. A few days later, he was admitted and aspergillus fumigatus was found in a biopsy of his tracheal tissue. To the best of our knowledge, the possible correlation between laryngotracheal aspergillosis and such a rare type of cancer larynx (SpCC) has not been highlighted in the literature.

Aim: This study aimed to characterize the clinical and pathologic presentation of ocular surface tumors (OSTs) and to more precisely differentiate the grades of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) and benign lesions among Zambians. Methods: Two-hundred sixty-five Zambian patients presenting with ocular surface growths, suspicious for OSSN, were recruited between November 2017 and November 2019 to a cross-sectional study to investigate their lesions. Sociodemographic data were collected, HIV infection status and vision tests were performed, and lesions were measured and documented. Lesions >2 mm in diameter were excised and sent for pathology analysis. In addition to the biopsies, tears, blood, and buccal swabs were collected. CD4+ T-cell counts were measured by flow cytometry. Lesions were classified according to the WHO guidelines. χ2 and bivariate correlations were used to analyze variable associations and strengths with phi/Cramer’s V and correlation coefficients, respectively. Binary logistics was used to adjust for covariance. Results: In this study, 68.3% of the participants were found to be HIV positive. The most frequent diagnoses were invasive OSSN (45.3%), preinvasive OSSN (29.1%), and pterygium (22.6%). Invasive OSSN comprised keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (87.5%), basaloid SCC (3.3%), and spindle cell carcinoma (3.3%). Unusual carcinomas, not described previously, included hybrid SCC (5.0%) and acantholytic SCC (0.8%). Invasive OSSN had advanced tumor (T3/T4) staging (93.3%) at diagnosis. Lymphadenopathy was rare (2.3%), and metastasis was absent. Patients were mostly female (59.2%). Median age was 36 (interquartile ranges 33–41) years (ranges 18–81). Patients with invasive OSSN were more likely to present with pain (p = 0.007), redness (p = 0.034), excessive tearing (p = 0.0001), discharge (p = 0.011), bleeding (p = 0.007), reduced vision (p = 0.0001), fungating lesion (p = 0.001), and blindness (p = 0.005); location at temporal limbus (p = 0.0001), inferior limbus (p = 0.0001), or circumlimbal (p = 0.001); and extension to cornea (p = 0.006) and forniceal palpebral conjunctiva (p = 0.001). Invasive OSSN was associated with any smoking habit and alcohol consumption (p = 0.04 and 0.03, respectively). HIV positivity was strongly associated with OSSN (74.6% OSSN vs. 49.3% benign lesions; p = 0.0001; phi: 0.237 [p = 0.0001]). Conclusion: OSTs are very common in Zambia and are strongly associated with HIV coinfection. Patients with OSSN were more likely to be HIV positive than those with pterygia. Despite the commonality of OSTs in sub-Saharan Africa, these cancers have historically been poorly characterized.

Background Fibromatosis-like metaplastic carcinoma (FLMCa), classified as a metaplastic carcinoma of the breast, is a very rare type of metaplastic carcinoma. We report a case of FLMCa that was difficult to diagnose. Case presentation The patient was a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented with a left-sided breast mass. A 1.3-cm irregular mass was found in the lower outer quadrant of the left breast on breast ultrasonography. She underwent core needle biopsy and vacuum-assisted biopsy, but the pathological findings only revealed inflammatory cell infiltration and a high level of fibrosis, with no malignant findings. At 3 months follow-up, she underwent a repeat breast ultrasonography, which revealed an increase in the size of the mass to 1.8 cm, and a repeat core needle biopsy, which showed a few spindle cells and squamous cells positive for cytokeratin (CK)5/6 and AE1/AE3, leading to the suspicion of FLMCa. Since the amount of tissue was insufficient to establish a definitive diagnosis, she underwent a lumpectomy. We found low-grade and slightly atypical spindle cells and partly atypical spindle cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. CK5/6 and α-SMA were positive, thus confirming FLMCa. Because the margins on the edge of the nipple side and anterior side were “ink on tumor”, she underwent a mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. After the surgery, she received adjuvant chemotherapy. At 3 years and 8 months of follow-up, no recurrent or metastatic lesions were identified in her body. Conclusions FLMCa should be considered in the differential diagnosis when collagenous fibers are proliferating and malignancy is clinically suspected. Immunohistochemical analysis may be helpful in confirming this diagnosis.

Spindle cell carcinoma of the salivary gland is very rare. Spindle cell carcinoma is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma with an aggressive course. We present a rare case of spindle cell carcinoma of the parotid in a 54-year-old male, who presented with a rapidly enlarging mass in the right parotid gland. Histopathologically, the tumour was composed of foci of squamous cell carcinoma with sheets of malignant squamoid cells and spindle cell sarcoma with scattered pleomorphic, plump to spindle- shaped cells with foci of bone formation. Immunohistochemical studies revealed cytokeratin positivity and vimentin negativity in the squamous cell carcinoma component with focal positivity for epithelial membrane antigen and negative expression of cytokeratin and vimentin positivity in the sarcomatoid component. A final diagnosis of primary spindle cell carcinoma of the parotid gland was given. Our patient is alive and well with no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence or metastatic disease after 12 months of follow up period. Keywords: Salivary gland, Spindle cell carcinoma, Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry.

Acute ischemic events secondary to pulmonary malignancy are rare. Those who present with acute peripheral arterial occlusions from malignant sources will typically have advanced pulmonary malignancy or myxomatous tumors. A 79-year-old woman had presented to Vancouver General Hospital with acute mesenteric ischemia. The pathology reports after embolectomy indicated cell morphology consistent with spindle cell carcinoma of the lung. Imaging investigations revealed a right upper lobe mass not present on chest imaging studies performed 14 months previously. The findings from the present report serves to remind us that acute ischemic events in the setting of no known history of malignancy or cardiac disease should prompt investigations into possible malignant sources.

Introduction:Spindle cell carcinomas (SpCC) are a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma which is rarely encountered in the head and neck. It is also known as“pseudocarcinoma”, “sarcomatoidcarcinoma,” and “carcinosarcoma”.It has an aggressive nature and has poor prognosis despite aggressive treatment. Case report: A 48-year-old lady presented to us with a right painless upper gum swelling which was progressively enlarging for 3 months after tooth extraction. Examination of the oral a fungating mass over the right upper alveolus extending to the right upper gingivolabial sulcus. She was subjected to a debulking palliative to reduce the tumour bulk. The intraoperative samples sent for histopathological examination was reported as SpCC, AJCC (8th edition) stage pT2pN3b. She recovered well after the surgery with quality of life after the surgery. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(4) 2021 p.923-925

Esophageal carcinosarcoma is a rare type of esophageal cancer characterized by both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components. Its endophytic growth tendency into the esophageal lumen leads to a higher curative resection rate. However, lymph node metastases in esophageal carcinosarcoma occur at a relatively early stage. We report a case of esophageal carcinosarcoma in a 52-year-old man who had dysphagia for 2 months and a history of ingestion of glacial acetic acid in adolescence. His endoscopy and chest CT results showed an 8.5-cm-sized ulcerative polypoid mass with multiple lymph node metastases in the mid-esophagus. Biopsy revealed an interweaving spindle cell proliferation with squamous dysplasia. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive expressions of vimentin and cytokeratin. Even though the patient received concomitant chemoradiotherapy with a stent insertion, he died 7 months after diagnosis. We herein present a case of corrosive esophagitis followed by esophageal carcinosarcoma that suggested the possibility of an association between the two diseases.

Breast fibroepithelial lesions (FELs) encompass the common fibroadenoma (FA) and relatively rare phyllodes tumour (PT); the latter entity is usually classified as benign, borderline or malignant. Intratumoural heterogeneity is frequently present in these tumours, making accurate histologic evaluation challenging. Despite their rarity, PTs are an important clinical problem due to their propensity for recurrence and, in the case of malignant PT, metastasis. Surgical excision is the mainstay of management. Recent work has uncovered myriad genetic alterations in breast FELs. In this study, exome sequencing was performed on seven cases of morphologically heterogeneous breast FELs, including FAs, PTs of all grades, and a case of metaplastic spindle cell carcinoma arising in PT, in order to elucidate their intratumoural genetic repertoire. Gene mutations identified encompassed cell signalling, tumour suppressor, DNA repair and cell cycle regulating pathways. Mutations common to multiple tumour regions generally showed higher variant allele frequency. Frequent mutations included MED12, TP53, RARA and PIK3CA. Histological observations of increased cellular density and pleomorphism correlated with mutational burden. Phylogenetic analyses revealed disparate pathways of possible tumour progression. In summary, histological heterogeneity correlated with genetic changes in breast FELs.

A 48-year-old female with a complaint of persistent pain referred to the Imam Khomeini (Tehran, Iran) in 2018. Based on the radiographic findings, radiolucent lesion found in the right mandible and she had alendronate administration approximately for 10 years. Since the past 6 months, the lesion detected in the right mandible. According to the computed tomography scan, a large lytic destructive lesion with a soft-tissue component was seen at the right mandibular ramus. Microscopic examinations revealed the proliferation of anaplastic spindle-shaped cells arranged in interlacing bundles and whorled patterns. Nuclear polymorphism, scattered cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and increased mitotic activity were notable. Immunohistochemistry findings for tissue section composed of spindle cell proliferation revealed Ki67 (20% positive in hotspots), scattered positive right side incisional biopsy was done. The observation revealed hyperplastic and disorganized squamous epithelial lesion, suggestive of spindle squamous cell carcinoma and osteonecrosis in this patient.

We described a case of low-grade fibromatosis-like spindle cell carcinoma (FLSCC) of the breast of a 49-year-old woman, which was diagnosed by excisional biopsy. The histopathology was characterized by bland neoplastic spindle cells with mild or no nuclear atypia, mimicking a benign mesenchymal tumor. An immunopanel of markers including pancytokeratin, p63, smooth muscle actin (SMA), CD10, and β-catenin was performed to establish the diagnosis and exclude other mimickers. The patient subsequently received modified radical mastectomy and was alive without disease for 10-year follow-up. Low-grade fibromatosis-like spindle cell carcinoma is a rare subtype of metaplastic carcinomas of the breast and typically occurs as palpable breast mass in an older woman. It can be histologically confused with nodular fasciits, desmoids-type fibromatosis, and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Immunohistochemical study was essential for a correct diagnosis. It behaves as a locally aggressive disease but with a low potential of regional lymph node or distant metastasis.

Pulmonary spindle cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy that often mimics benign conditions. We report 4 cases that simulate a pulmonary infarction, 2 of which were misdiagnosed. Patients were 3 men and 1 woman, smokers, presenting chest pain. All cases appeared as pleural-based, solitary, and rounded nodules. Patients underwent wedge resections followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (3/4) but died of disease. At histology, lesions consisted of widely necrotic nodules surrounded by organizing fibrosis and pleuritis. Examination and immunostains with pan-cytokeratins and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) revealed atypical spindle cells encircling necrotic tissue and involving the vascular wall. Positive staining with PD-L1 was noted. Molecular analysis showed KRAS (2/4) and TP53 (1/4) mutations, whereas EGFR, ALK, and ROS1 alterations were not detected. Although in a limited series, these cases further evidence the treacherous appearance of spindle cell carcinomas and the need for careful attention when examining pulmonary infarcted tissue, thus requiring extensive sampling, meticulous examination of vascular structures, and immunostaining with cytokeratins.

Reconstruction of bone and soft-tissue defects in the forearm is a surgery that often proves unsuccessful. Free fibular osteocutaneous flaps are a useful material for reconstruction that enable simultaneous reconstruction of bone, skin, and soft tissues. However, in free fibular osteocutaneous flaps, the fibula, skin, and vascular pedicle are tightly bound together by the posterior intermuscular septum and the perforators that pass through the septum, giving the disadvantage of a low degree of freedom when setting these structures in place. We take into account the 3-dimensional structure of the free skin flap when selecting which lower leg to use as the donor. We report here the case of a 61-year-old man with defects in the radius, skin, and soft tissues after resection of spindle cell carcinoma of the right forearm, which was reconstructed using a free fibular osteocutaneous flap harvested from the left lower leg. Two years postoperatively, recovery has been uneventful with no complications. Donor-side selection of free fibular osteocutaneous flap is an important factor for safely completing composite radius reconstruction.

Aims: To investigate the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of laryngeal spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC). Methods: Between 2005 and 2014, patients from our hospital with SpCC of the larynx were retrospectively analyzed alongside patient data from the SEER database of America. Results: A total of 11 patients with SpCC of the larynx were diagnosed and underwent surgery in our hospital. All patients were male and all tumors were located in the glottis. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were both 54.5%. In the SEER database, 148 patients were diagnosed with SpCC of the larynx. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 72.8 and 63.2%, respectively. According to the comparison of propensity score-matched analysis, the OS was longer in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: SpCC of the larynx is rare and typically originates in the glottis. Its prognosis is worse than that of laryngeal SCC, and surgery is a reasonable treatment strategy.

Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a heterogeneous category of primary lung cancer accounting from 0.3% to 3% of all primary lung malignancies. According to the most recent 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) classification, PSC includes several different variants of malignant epithelial tumors (carcinomas) histologically mimicking sarcomas showing or entirely lacking a conventional component of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, this rare subheading of lung neoplasms includes pleomorphic carcinoma, spindle cell carcinoma, giant cell carcinoma, pulmonary blastoma, and carcinosarcoma. A diagnosis of PSC may be suspected on small biopsy or cytology, but commonly requires a surgical resection to reach a conclusive definition. The majority of patients with PSC consists of elderly, smoking men with a large, peripheral mass characterized by well-defined margins. However, presentation with a central, polypoid endobronchial lesion is well-documented, particularly in pleomorphic carcinoma and carcinosarcoma showing a squamous cell carcinoma component. As expected, PSC may pose diagnostic problems and immunohistochemistry is largely used when pathologists deal these tumors in routine practice. Indeed, PSC tends to overexpress molecules associated with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, such as vimentin, but the panel of immunostains also includes epithelial markers (cytokeratins, EMA), TTF-1, p40 and negative markers (e.g., melanocytic, mesothelial and sarcoma-related primary antibodies). Although rare, PSC has increased their interest among oncologist community for different reasons: a. identification of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal phenomenon as a major mechanism of secondary resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors; b. over-expression of PD-L1 and effective treatment with immunotherapy; c. identification of c-MET exon 14 skipping mutation representing an effective target to crizotinib and other specific inhibitors. In this review, the feasibility of the diagnosis of PSC, its differential diagnosis and novel molecular findings characterizing this group of lung tumor are discussed.

Spindle cell carcinoma or sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) has been recently defined as a monoclonal dedifferentiated form of conventional squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and termed as spindle cell (sarcomatoid) squamous carcinoma as per the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Although the frequency of SC of the breast, larynx, esophagus, and lungs has been reported, the frequency of oral SC with rhabdo-myosarcomatous dedifferentiation of the maxilla is unknown yet because of the less number of reported cases. Microscopic features of spindle cell carcinoma resemble many benign and malignant oral lesions. Therefore, a careful depiction with the help of routine hematoxylin and eosin along with immunohistochemistry using appropriate markers is necessary to diagnose spindle cell carcinoma. SC is itself a rare entity accounting for

Spindle Cell Carcinoma (SpCC) is a biphasic tumor. They are proven to be monoclonal dedifferentiated forms of conventional squamous carcinomas. It is a rare tumor which is infrequently observed in head, neck and in the aerodigestive tract. The tumor is aggressive and shows high frequency of recurrence and metastasis. It is an aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma which resembles a true sarcoma. It is a proliferation of spindle cells and squamous cells. For confirmation of diagnosis, immunohistochemistry is used. A Rare case of spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma in a 61 years old male in the tongue.The patient reported of rapidly growing lesion from six months with pain severe pain, dysphagia and difficulty in swallowing patient had history of chewing tobacco from past 35 years. Keywords: Spindle Cell Variant, Biphasic tumor, Head and Neck, Pseudocarcinoma, Sqamous cell, Dysplastic.

We report a case of a 62-year-old man with epistaxis and right-sided nasal obstruction. Nasal endoscopy revealed an exophytic mass arising from the anterior septum that extended posteriorly to the osteo-meatal complex. Excision with endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. Carcinosarcoma was diagnosed based on histopathology and immunohistochemical studies. The patient declined surgery and opted for chemoradiation therapy for the residual tumor. Six weeks after completion of the treatment, clinical resolution of the right nasal mass was noted. Carcinosarcomas are rare and rapidly growing tumors that have a high recurrence rate and are associated with poor patient prognosis. This report emphasizes the need for patients with prolonged nasal obstruction and epistaxis to consult otolaryngologists and undergo nasal endoscopy for definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Background: Spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) is an unusual form of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and can sometimes present in the breast. Owing to the rarity of breast SpCC, few case studies are available nowadays and proper evidence is scarce. Case presentation: We herein report a 60-year-old female patient, who was referred to the surgery services after presenting with a right breast ulcerated mass. On physical examination, a 7x7 cm mass was found along with a 3 cm ulcer on the top of it. Both mammography and ultrasound showed a dense mass, and tru-cut and skin punch biopsies confirmed neoplastic spindle cells within the lesion. The patient underwent a right total mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsies with no further chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Conclusion: Owing to the heterogeneity of SpCC, there is no exact treatment protocol for this type of cancer, and mastectomy or conservative surgery can be performed in certain groups of patients depending on tumor size, stage, and lymph node involvement. Fortunately, promising medical and biological therapies might be of use in the near future.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the colon is an extremely rare tumor. To date, less than 50 cases have been reported in the literature. It is rapidly growing, with a high recurrence rate, and has a very poor prognosis. Herein we present a 34-year-old male with a two-month history of weight loss, abdominal distention, and chronic history of constipation. Endoscopy was done and revealed undifferentiated adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon. On histopathology, the tumor was composed of sarcomatous and carcinomatous components. On immunohistochemistry, strong immunoreactivity for cytokeratin was found and the spindle cell component was largely vimentin positive.

OBJECTIVE The present study was aimed to comprehensively characterize the epidemiological, clinicopathological characteristics, treatments, and prognosis of intraoral spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients diagnosed with intraoral SpCC at our institution in the past 15 years (2005-2019) were screened from inpatient disease registry. All relevant data concerning patients with intraoral SpCC were retrieved. Previous reports about intraoral SpCC with adequate clinicopathological data in both English literature and Chinese literature were collected. Eligible cases were further reviewed and pooled for statistical analyses. RESULTS Six patients (5 females and 1 male; average age: 59 years) with intraoral SpCC were histopathologically diagnosed and surgically treated at our institution. The literature review identified another 63 published cases from 34 articles. Most cases were presented in the fifth to seventh decade of life with a male preponderance. Gingiva (23/69, 33.3%) was the most common site followed by the tongue (19/69, 27.5%) and buccal mucosa (8/69, 11.6%). Complete surgical ablation remains the primary treatment option. Tumor size, pathological grades, cervical node metastasis, and distant metastasis were significantly associated with reduced survival. CONCLUSIONS Intraoral SpCC is an uncommon and aggressive malignancy with dismal prognosis. Much attention and effort are needed to characterize this rare entity and improve its clinical outcomes.

Spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) of the breast is quite a rare modality classified to the metaplastic carcinoma of the breast. Regarding its biological behavior and the prognosis of the patients with this rare tumor, it has been remaining controversial. We herein report an 88 year-old woman who had a huge bleeding tumor on the right breast. She was a high-aged woman with low activities of daily life, even with some suspicion of distant organ metastasis. While the tumor proved to drastically bleed due to the tumor disintegration, a right simple mastectomy was performed. According to the histopathologic examinations, sarcomatoid spindle cells with severe atypia were observed. By an immunohistochemical examination, the tumor had proved to express neither estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor nor HER2 receptor. Moreover an immunohistochemical expression of AE1/3 and CAM5.2, defining an epithelial neoplasm were observed in addition to an expression of vimentin. From these findings, this bleeding tumor was diagnosed as spindle cell carcinoma of the breast. J. Med. Invest. 67 : 365-367, August, 2020.

Metaplastic carcinoma of breast (MCB) is a rare breast malignancy. It is important to differentiate metaplastic carcinoma from malignant phyllodes and primary breast sarcomas because of their differing biological behavior and prognosis. We report four cases of MCB diagnosed over the past 15 years. Retrospective review of patient records in a tertiary care setting to retrieve cases diagnosed as MCB. Patient records of the past 15 years (2002–2015) were retrieved. Four histopathologically diagnosed cases of metaplastic carcinoma out of a total of 880 archived cases of breast carcinoma were studied along with their cytopathology. Immunohistochemistry was performed on sections. MCB comprised 0.45% of all breast malignancies. The four cases of MCB included MCB with chondroid metaplasia, spindle cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, and carcinosarcoma. All the tumors were invariably triple negative (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Her2/Neu negative) and expression of other epithelial and mesenchymal markers was variable. MCB is a rare breast malignancy. Differential diagnosis is related to the presence of heterologous elements and degree of atypia seen in the lesion. It is important to be aware of this entity as it carries a poor prognosis.

Esophageal spindle cell carcinoma (ESpCC) is a malignant tumor composed of sarcomatous components. ESpCC is treated as a squamous cell carcinoma. However, because ESpCC is a rare tumor, little is known regarding its prognosis. This study aimed to analyze patients with ESpCC who were surgically treated at our hospital, determine the validity of surgery, and identify factors that indicate a prognosis. Treatment characteristics, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of 28 patients with ESpCC who underwent surgery at our hospital between 1990 and 2016 were assessed. Furthermore, factors associated with OS and RFS were analyzed. Subtotal esophagectomy with 3-field lymph node dissection and lower esophagectomy with 2-field lymph node dissection were performed in 25 and 3 patients, respectively. Chemotherapy was administered as preoperative therapy to two patients. Postoperative therapy, comprising radiotherapy and chemotherapy, was administered to three and nine patients, respectively. The 3- and 5-year RFS were 66.4% and 61.6% and the 3- and 5-year OS were 73% and 61.9%, respectively. Macroscopic type was identified as a prognostic factor. In terms of OS, prognosis was significantly worse in ulcerative-type ESpCC than in the polypoid type. The 5-year OS of ESpCC mainly treated with surgical therapy was 61.9%. However, prognosis was poor in some patients with ulcerative-type ESpCC according to macroscopic type. In the future, it will be necessary to accumulate more cases and investigate therapeutic strategies added to surgery to improve prognosis.

Background Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast (MCB) is a rare type of breast cancer that accounts for 1% of all cases of invasive breast cancer. This MCB is categorized into special types of breast cancers. MCB is characterized by the presence of multiple components and transitional cells between two tissue types, because the tumor cells differentiate in different directions and degrees into a variety of cells other than glandular cells. However, MCB is often misdiagnosed preoperatively as ordinary breast cancer based on several tissue imaging findings. The diagnosis of MCB is highly difficult with cytology and even with core needle biopsy (CNB). The diagnostic rate of MCB with CNB is as low as 40%, with the remaining 60% diagnosed as ordinary mammary duct carcinoma. MCB is unlikely to respond to anticancer drugs, surgery as the initial treatment is prioritized over preoperative anticancer drug therapy. Therefore, accurate preoperative diagnosis is important. To date, no report has described the likelihood of skin invasion in a patient with MCB. Case presentation This case report describes a 67-year-old woman with an unremarkable past or family history, who visited the author's clinic after noticing a swelling of her right nipple and a lump located around her right nipple 2 months previously. CNB was performed. Results The pathological findings of the CNB specimen indicated metaplastic carcinoma. Metaplastic carcinoma with sarcomatoid changes, i.e., spindle cell carcinoma or matrix-producing carcinoma, was suspected. There was no skin invasion despite the presence of both a large mass and large swelling of the nipple in this patient. Conclusions For MCB, preoperative anticancer drug therapy could be avoided and surgery may be considered the initial treatment. Despite the presence of a large mass, MCB may be less likely to cause skin invasion than ordinary breast cancer of the same size.

In India, oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 90%–95% of oral malignancies. The WHO classifies spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) under malignant epithelial tumors of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and is a rare entity accounting for only 1% of SCCs. It is an aggressive biphasic neoplasm exhibiting high mortality rate owing to increased metastasis and recurrence which signifies the need for recognition and treatment of this perplexed tumor. We present a case of maxillary SpCC where histopathological evaluation alone was indecisive, requiring immunohistochemistry for confirmation of the diagnosis. Key Words: Maxillary bone, spindle cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma

Microglandular adenosis (MA) of the breast, a benign glandular proliferation, was originally described approximately 35 years ago. The lesion is constituted by small glands, all of the same size. Glands are lined by one layer of cuboidal epithelial cells encircled by basal lamina without any evidence of interposed myoepithelial elements. Cells are positive for low-weight keratins and S-100 protein and negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER-2. Since then, in the years that followed, several malignant lesions all showing microglandular architecture have been regarded either as a precursor or as an equivalent manifestation of MA. The latter has been associated with a large number of malignancies that include ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ, ademyoepithelioma, high-grade basal-like carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, matrix-producing carcinoma, invasive duct carcinoma not otherwise specified, and spindle cell carcinoma, not to mention acinic cell carcinoma. None of the above tumors were identical to MA. Differences mainly rested not only on the specific structure of the small glands but also on the cytological composition and immunohistochemical features of different lesions. Here, a review of the features of MA together with the differential diagnosis with lesions showing microglandular structure is discussed. MA shows similarities to a lesion named microglandular hamartoma/adenosis of the nasal cavity. The relation of the 2 similar lesions is discussed.

There is limited evidence for the treatment of sarcomatoid lung carcinoma, especially spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) because of the rarity of disease. Although the efficacy of combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy (i.e. chemoimmunotherapy) for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is well recognized, the effect for SpCC is not fully elucidated. A 72‐year‐old woman underwent surgical resection for the treatment of stage IIIA SpCC. Recurrence occurred three months after surgery, and then she received combination of carboplatin, paclitaxel, bevacizumab, and atezolizumab. A clinically favourable response was achieved by four cycles of chemoimmunotherapy and sequential maintenance therapy with bevacizumab and atezolizumab. The prognosis of advanced SpCC is generally poor, but chemoimmunotherapy can be a good therapeutic option for the first‐line treatment of SpCC., Here, we report a case of spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC), which recurred after surgical resection and showed a good response to combination of carboplatin, paclitaxel, bevacizumab, and atezolizumab as a first‐line treatment.

BackgroundPulmonary sarcomatoid cancer (PSC) is a very rare subtype of poorly differentiated non-small-lung-cancer (NSCLC) with very poor prognosis. To date, the optimal treatment for PSC has not been elucidated, and the efficacy of anlotinib in PSC has not been previously reported.Case PresentationA 77-year-old male patient was admitted with cough, expectoration, and blood-stained sputum for one month. CT showed a soft mass in the inferior lobe of the right lung, which was diagnosed as spindle cell carcinoma (PSC) by histopathology. A videothoracoscopic right lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection procedure was performed on the patient, but the disease recurred one month after surgery. The patient was then given first-line chemotherapy with gemcitabine and albumin paclitaxel for one cycle, but the disease continued to progress. The patient then received anlotinib combined with second-line chemotherapy (dacarbazine and cis-platinum) for six cycles, and the response reached complete remission (CR). Then the patient was given maintenance therapy with anlotinib alone, and the disease was still stable at the most recent reexamination. Progression-free survival (PFS) has lasted for more than two years, without any intolerable toxicity.ConclusionThis postoperative recurrent PSC patient achieved significant clinical benefits with anlotinib treatment. Our findings provide direct evidence of the efficacy of anlotinib in PSC. More studies are needed to confirm our observation.

Background: Spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) of the breast is a rare histological type, a subtype of metaplastic carcinoma characterized by atypical spindle cell and epithelial carcinoma. The proportions of the spindle cell and epithelial components vary among tumours. Due to its rarity, biological characteristics of this disease have been poorly studied. Methods: In total, 10 patients with SpCC were surgically treated at our institution from January 2007 to December 2018. We retrospectively investigated these SpCC cases, focusing on the differences between spindle cell and epithelial components. Microsatellite status was also examined. Results: Nine cases were triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The rates of high tumour grade were 70% in spindle cell components and 56% in epithelial components ( P = .65), while the mean Ki67 labelling index were 63% and 58%, respectively ( P = .71). Mean programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in these components was 11% and 1%, respectively ( P = .20). All 10 tumours were microsatellite stable. Patient outcomes of triple-negative SpCC did not differ from those of propensity-matched patients with conventional TNBC. Conclusions: Spindle cell components showed higher values in factors examined, although there was no statistically significant difference. Our data reveal that these 2 components of SpCC may be of different biological nature.

Aims Although rare, malignant sarcomatoid breast tumours without evidence of epithelial differentiation comprise a diagnostic challenge with management implications. Earlier studies have generally considered these to be primary breast sarcomas; however, supporting evidence is lacking and management remains variable. This study aimed to provide an evidence-based approach to improve the consistency of diagnosis and management for such cases.Methods and results A large series (n = 140) of metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) diagnosed in Nottingham over 18 years was analysed. Only cases with available data on immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratins (CKs) were included. The prevalence and pattern of expression for various CKs were assessed and details of tumours negative for CKs were collected. A diagnostic approach based on our experience is provided. Forty-seven cases (34%) showed foci of conventional type invasive breast carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), while 93 cases (66%) were diagnosed as MBC based on morphology and/or CK expression. Ninety-seven cases (69%) were negative for one or more CKs, with 18 cases (13%) negative for five or more CKs. Eight cases (6%) lacked expression of all CKs tested. Further examination showed evidence of carcinomatous nature in five cases, and three were diagnosed as MBC following extensive diagnostic work-up and based on our experience.Conclusion This study suggests that MBC represents a spectrum of neoplasms, with some lacking CK expression. Sarcomatoid neoplasms of the breast lacking evidence of carcinomatous morphology and CK expression may represent an extreme end of differentiation that can be considered as carcinomas rather than sarcomas for management purposes (following extensive work-up).

Background Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC) is associated with poor prognosis. Although there is no standard treatment for SRCC, recent studies have reported the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Case An 82‐year‐old Japanese man presented to our hospital with an incidental right renal tumor. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed an exophytic tumor in the right kidney with suspected right iliopsoas muscle invasion. Laparoscopic right radical nephrectomy was performed. Histopathological diagnosis revealed a clear cell RCC with a spindle cell carcinoma component. CT performed 3 months after surgery revealed multiple bilateral lung metastases and local recurrence. Although the patient received tyrosine‐kinase inhibitors for treating multiple metastases, the lung metastases continued to gradually increase, and peritonitis carcinomatosis was observed. Thus, the patient was intravenously administered nivolumab once every 2 weeks. After nivolumab administration, lung metastases, local recurrence, and peritonitis carcinomatosis gradually reduced. After 20 months of nivolumab treatment, the patient achieved a complete response of multiple metastases on CT. Conclusion Nivolumab may be used as a treatment option for sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma with multiple metastases.

Spindle Cell Carcinoma (SpCC) is a rare neoplasm that occurs mainly in the upper aero-digestive tract, mostly in larynx. We present a case of SpCC arising from nasal septum. Surgical excision was done with postoperative chemo-radiotherapy and the patient is in follow-up and is asymptomatic from the last 24 months.

Purpose Carcinosarcoma, also known as Spindle Cell Carcinoma (SpCC), is a rare type of malignant tumor. Generally, this type of pathology occurs in the urogenital tract, the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and mammary gland; in the larynx, SpCC represents only 2–3% of all malignancies. Due to its rarity, there is currently no generally acceptable treatment guideline for this disease. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature of SpCC of larynx and report epidemiologic, clinicopathologic and main therapeutic approaches for this entity. Methods A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and Scopus databases. For this review, the results were extrapolated in the period between January 1990 to September 2020. Data extraction was performed using a standard registry database. The clinical and pathological staging were recalculated according to the Eight Edition of AJCC Cancer Staging Manual and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 25.0. Results A total of 111 patients affected by laryngeal carcinosarcoma were included. From our review arises that surgery is the main treatment for primary laryngeal carcinosarcoma. In this way, various techniques such as minimally invasive laryngoscopy excision, laser CO2 cordectomy, partial laryngectomy (vertical and horizontal) and total laryngectomy. The role of radiotherapy is still controversial. The overall survival (OS) for T1 stage tumor at 5 years of follow-up is 82.9%, the OS for T2 and T3 tumor is 74% and 73.4%. The OS at 5 years of follow-up is 91.7% for supraglottic tumor, 69.3% for glottic tumor and 50% for transglottic site. Subglottic site is described in only 2 cases [12–13], so the OS at 5 years is not statistically significant. The 5-year overall survival in patients without lymph nodes involvement (N0) is 90.2%, 66.7% and 50%, respectively, for N1 and N2 lesions. Conclusion Primary laryngeal carcinosarcoma is a very rare malignancy. There are no clear guidelines in the management but in the literature, surgery is described as the best modality of therapy; radiation only can be a reasonable alternative with controversial efficacy. The most important prognostic factor is the nodal metastasis.