Pathological diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in the pediatric population is challenging, as it occurs uncommonly in this age-group and resembles other spindle cell neoplasms. SFT contains a NAB2-STAT6 fusion gene, which can be reliably detected using STAT6 immunohistochemistry. Positive staining is highly sensitive and specific. We sought to investigate the utility of STAT6 immunohistochemistry, to show how commonly SFT was historically recognized at 3 academic pediatric institutions, to reclassify them when appropriate, and to demonstrate features of major mimics of SFT. Our series included cases with a previous diagnosis of SFT or for which SFT was among key considerations, from 3 major academic pediatric hospitals seen over the past 30 years. Of 18 tumors identified, only 3 tumors from 2 patients demonstrated positive STAT6 staining as well as the typical histology and immunophenotype seen in SFT. The remaining 15 tumors were reclassified based on morphology, additional immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization as desmoid-type fibromatosis (3 tumors), nerve sheath/neural tumors (3 tumors), low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, medallion-like dermal fibroma, poorly differentiated Sertoli cell tumor, nodular/proliferative fasciitis, calcifying fibrous tumor, aneurysmal bone cyst of soft tissue, STAT6-negative SFT with adipocytic differentiation, undifferentiated small round blue cell tumor, and scar (1 tumor each). Our study confirms that SFT is rare in the pediatric population and that it is potentially overdiagnosed. STAT6 immunohistochemistry is recommended to confirm the diagnosis of SFT in the pediatric population.
Keywords: STAT6 immunohistochemistry; soft tissue neoplasms; solitary fibrous tumor.