Cytopathology of myxofibrosarcoma: a study of 66 cases and literature review

Myxofibrosarcoma is one of the more common sarcomas encountered in adults.A search was made of our cytopathology and surgical pathology databases for cases diagnosed as myxofibrosarcoma (MyxoFS). FNA biopsy smears and cell block were performed and examined using standard techniques.Sixty-six cases were retrieved from patients aged 40 to 94 years (mean: 67 years), with a male:female ratio of 1.4:1. Forty-seven (71%) were primary neoplasms, 13 (20%) locally recurrent, and 6 (9%) metastasis. Lower extremity was the most common site 38 (58%) cases, followed by upper extremity and trunk (each 13 [20%] cases), 1 head/neck, and 1 pleural-based mass. Forty-two (64%) cases were specifically/correctly diagnosed as MyxoFS. Thirteen (20%) were diagnosed as undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), 3 (4.5%) as myxoid neoplasm, 2 (3%) as myxoid sarcoma, and 1 (1.5%) sarcoma, not otherwise specified. As most were examples of high-grade (HG) MyxoFS, cytomorphology contained pleomorphic and spindled cells set in a variable amount of myxoid stroma. Arborizing capillaries were common, and pseudolipoblasts were uncommon. All cases interpreted as UPS were HG MyxoFS histologically. Five (7.5%) cases-pleomorphic liposarcoma (3), solitary fibrous tumor (1), and atypical lipoma (1)-were mistakenly diagnosed. Ancillary immunohistochemistry played a minor role in diagnostic assessment.MyxoFS was accurately interpreted using FNA biopsy in about two thirds of cases. One fifth were misinterpreted as UPS due to the absence/near absence of myxoid stroma, which varies considerably in the definition of this neoplasm.