Epithelioid Fibrous Histiocytoma: A Concise Review

Epithelioid fibrous histiocytoma (EFH) is a rare lesion believed to arise from dermal microvascular unit fibroblasts and dendritic histiocytes. EFH has long been considered a morphologic variant of benign fibrous histiocytoma (dermatofibroma), with prominent epithelioid cytomorphology that can mimic both vascular and melanocytic neoplasms. The molecular basis for the relationship between EFH and benign fibrous histiocytoma has remained largely unknown, with some authors suggesting that EFH represents an entity that is biologically distinct from benign fibrous histiocytoma. Recent molecular studies have identified the presence of recurrent anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements, a phenomenon that has not been described in benign fibrous histiocytoma. These new molecular findings highlight the uniqueness of this rare tumor and may prove useful as a diagnostic tool for differentiation from other histologic mimics.