[Modern morphological diagnosis and current classification of soft tissue sarcomas]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pathology
• Molecular Biology

Context:

• Malignant soft tissue tumors (sarcomas) are rare, necessitating expertise found primarily in specialized centers.
• Histopathological evaluation of HE-stained sections remains the gold standard for diagnosing sarcomas.
• Increasingly, molecular diagnostic techniques are becoming integral to sarcoma evaluation.

Purpose:

• To provide an overview of modern diagnostic methods for soft tissue sarcomas.
• To emphasize the role of molecular techniques, including fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in sarcoma diagnosis.
• To explain the World Health Organization (WHO) soft tissue tumor classification and illustrate updated interpretations of specific tumor entities.

Summary:

• This review highlights the diagnostic advancements in soft tissue sarcomas, moving beyond traditional histology.
• It details the application of immunohistochemistry and advanced molecular techniques like FISH and RT-PCR.
• The article clarifies the WHO classification, using examples like atypical lipomatous tumors and malignant fibrous histiocytomas to demonstrate evolving diagnostic criteria.

Impact:

• Enhances diagnostic accuracy for rare sarcomas, potentially improving patient outcomes.
• Facilitates a standardized approach to sarcoma classification and diagnosis globally.
• Supports the integration of molecular pathology into routine clinical practice for soft tissue tumors.