Malignant fibrous histiocytoma like pleomorphic leiomyosarcoma with laryngeal cancer as a second primary neoplasm: a case report

Acta Cytol. 2010 Sep-Oct;54(5 Suppl):1013-7.

Abstract

Background: Leiomyosarcoma is one of the most common sarcomas arising in the soft tissue and somatic organs. Pleomorphic leiomyosarcoma (P-LMS) may be easily confused with a malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) as both may share nonspecific morphologic features. It is reported that the larynx is the most common site for a second primary neoplasm (SPN) in a patient with a head and neck malignancy, although an SPN of the larynx following a P-LMS is extremely rare.

Case: A 57-year-old male initially underwent fine needle aspiration (FNA) of a soft tissue tumor (STS) located in the left upper arm. FNA showed the presence of clustered, large tumor cells with clear, eosinophilic and ill-defined cytoplasm and pleomorphic nuclei. A diagnosis of an undifferentiated malignant tumor was made. Histology showed the presence of MFH. This diagnosis was changed to P-LMS following a lung metastasis. A laryngeal biopsy 37 months after the initial biopsy was performed and showed squamous carcinoma. This squamous carcinoma was presumed to be an SPN.

Conclusion: This is the first case report of a patient with a P-LMS who then developed laryngeal squamous carcinoma as an SPN.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Leiomyosarcoma / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology*