Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma: A Tumor With Uncertain Behavior and Various Clinicopathological Presentations

Cureus. 2022 Sep 9;14(9):e28985. doi: 10.7759/cureus.28985. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Background Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare soft tissue neoplasm of uncertain differentiation, which has various clinical and morphological presentations. Although it behaves in a benign manner, it has malignant potential. Aim To share various histological patterns and survival data in our population of this rare entity. Materials and methods We studied 25 patients who reported AFH from January 2011 to December 2021. Clinical information, gross and histological features, immunohistochemical results, and survival data were compiled and analyzed. Results Among 25 cases reported as AFH, the majority (68%) were males with a mean age of 31.8 years at the time of diagnosis. The most common location was the lower extremity, especially the thigh (56%), and the mean size of the lesion was 55 mm. Most of the lesions were superficial (84%). Grossly, the majority of lesions (76%) had a solid appearance. Microscopically, classic spindle cell morphology was the most common (76%) with a lymphoid cuff and intralesional hemorrhage. Mild cellular atypia was seen in most (92%) of the cases, while some biopsies (8%) had a high-grade morphology. The majority of patients were alive, while one patient died of the disease. Conclusion AFH is an under-recognized entity with various clinical and histological presentations and a low malignant potential.

Keywords: angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma; angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (afh); histopathology; neoplasm; pathology; soft tissue pathology.