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Published on: October 26, 2013
Anchoring fibrils in a spindle cell squamous carcinoma
1Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco.
Journal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology
|April 1, 1989
Summary
Anchoring fibrils, rarely seen in tumors, were abundant in a difficult spindle cell tumor. Their presence strongly suggests a diagnosis of spindle cell squamous carcinoma, offering a new diagnostic marker.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Electron Microscopy
Background:
- Anchoring fibrils are rarely reported in tumors, primarily in specific oral and cutaneous cancers.
- Their presence in other neoplasms is often overlooked or misidentified as collagen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of a spindle cell tumor with abundant anchoring fibrils.
- To evaluate the diagnostic significance of anchoring fibrils in challenging tumor cases.
Main Methods:
- Light microscopy and immunohistochemical studies were employed.
- Detailed examination of the tumor matrix for anchoring plaques and fibrils.
Main Results:
- A difficult-to-diagnose malignant spindle cell tumor exhibited a striking abundance of anchoring plaques and fibrils.
- Differential diagnoses included malignant fibrous histiocytoma, neurofibrosarcoma, and desmoplastic melanoma.
- The presence of anchoring fibrils strongly supported the diagnosis of spindle cell squamous carcinoma.
Conclusions:
- Anchoring fibrils can be a crucial diagnostic marker in spindle cell tumors.
- A systematic search for anchoring fibrils may aid in diagnosing controversial neoplasms.
- Further research into the occurrence of anchoring fibrils in various tumors is warranted.
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