[Soft tissue neoplasms arising from myofibroblasts]

A group of 14 mainly spindle-cell tumours caused some uncertainly during bioptic classification with diagnosis oscillating between proliferating fibroma, fasciitis, fibrosarcoma, mesenchymal tumour, leimyoma, fibromesothelioma or even polymorphocellular sarcoma. A common feature was seen in the presence of different proportions of myofibroblasts of largely variable appearance. The only justification for the term "tumours arising from myofibroblasts" is in the predominance of well defined myofibroblasts. In all other cases the presence of such elements is at least a prospective contribution to the assessment of histogenetic connections.