Spindle cell lipoma: clinicopathologic characterization of 40 cases

In view of the existence of multifarious pathologic subtypes of spindle cell lipoma (SCL), which is easily misdiagnosed as other benign and malignant soft tissue tumors, we performed this study and aimed to better define the category of SCL.

We collected and analyzed 40 cases of SCL with complete clinical and pathologic information from January 2010 to December 2018. Clinical and histopathologic analyses of SCL were performed, as well as immunohistochemical staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using probes for RB1 and MDM2, and the related literature was reviewed.

In 40 cases, the male to female ratio was 3.4:1, and the mean age was 54 years old. SCL of our study included six pathologic subtypes: classic (25/40), fibrous (4/40), myxoid (4/40), low-fat (3/40), pseudoangiomatous (2/40), and fat-rich (2/40) changes. Microscopically, SCL showed distinctive morphology, with uniform spindle cells and a variably adipocytic component. The spindle cells were bland in morphology, without prominent atypia or pleomorphism, set in a myxoid or fibrous matrix. Immunohistochemically, CD34 and vimentin were positive in spindle cells, and spindle cells of 6 cases also expressed S-100 protein. FISH analysis of 10 cases revealed that heterozygous deletion of RB1 was in six samples with chromosome 13 aberrations and MDM2 gene amplification was not detected in any cases. Surgical resection is considered as the primary treatment for SCL, as there was no any recurrence or metastasis in our cases after 2-105 months of follow-up.

SCL is a rare benign lipoma, and the proportion of spindle cells and adipocytic component varies, which may form various pathologic changes. The diagnosis needs to be combined with clinicopathologic features, immunophenotypes, and genetics. It has to be differentiated from mammary-type myofibroblastoma, cellular angiolipoma, solitary fibrous tumor, and myxoid liposarcoma.