Mammary-type myofibroblastoma with infarction and atypical mitosis-a potential diagnostic pitfall: A case report

BACKGROUND: Mammary-type myofibroblastoma (MTMF) is a rare benign extramammary soft tissue tumor with myofibroblastic differentiation. Although 160 cases of MTMF have been reported in the literature since 2001, no cases of infarction or atypical mitosis have been reported so far. Herein, we report an unusual case of MTMF in the pelvic cavity, which mimicked some malignant features, including infarction, atypical mitosis, infiltrative growth, and prominent cytologic atypia, making it difficult to ascertain whether the tumor was benign. CASE SUMMARY: A 49-year-old man complained of pain and discomfort in the right buttock for more than 4 mo and did not receive any treatment. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 13-cm-sized mass in his right pelvic cavity. Histologically significant differences were atypical mitosis figures and multiple necrotic foci in the tumor. In addition, smooth muscle and skeletal muscle were invaded within and at the edge of the tumor. These morphologic features are often reminiscent of malignant tumors and therefore pose a diagnostic challenge to pathologists. The tumor cells were strongly positive for both cluster of differentiation 34 and desmin, and the loss of retinoblastoma 1 shown by immunohistochemical and fluorescence in situ hybridization results confirmed the pathological diagnosis of MTMF. Currently, the patient is alive and in good condition without tumor recurrence or metastasis after 2.5 years of follow-up by telephone and MRI. CONCLUSION: The two pseudo-malignant characteristics of infarction and atypical mitosis broaden the morphological lineage of MTMF, a rare mesenchymal tumor.