Histopathologic diagnosis of superficial soft tissue tumors, related lesions, and simulators: an algorithmic approach...

An algorithmic approach based on colors for histopathologic diagnosis of soft tissue tumors and their simulators is proposed. At scanning magnification, in specimens stained with H&E, mesenchymal tumors can be classified according to their color. The color of a tumor is basically determined by density, morphology and distribution of neoplastic cells, and by density and quantity of the stroma. The basic colors that can be observed by neoplasms stained with H&E are white, pink, red, and blue. Colors may be used as a first step to choose the algorithm for specific diagnosis of a given mesenchymal neoplasm. Furthermore, colors may be helpful in understanding the histogenesis of a tumor and this is especially important in soft tissue pathology, because criteria for benignancy and malignancy vary according to the nature of the neoplasm.