Firm Nodule (firm + nodule)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Cutaneous sclerosing perineurioma of the digit

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2006
Toshitsugu Nakamura MD
An 11-year-old Japanese girl noticed a small nodule, with mild tenderness, on the right index finger 5 years before visiting our outpatient clinic. She had no familial history of neurofibromatosis or past history of traumatic injury at the site of the tumor. Physical examination revealed a slightly elevated, subcutaneous, nodular tumor in the volar aspect between the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints of the digit (Fig. 1A). By magnetic resonance imaging examination, the tumor showed low density on both T1- and T2-weighted images, and was located just adjacent to the tendon with no invasive signs. The tumor was extirpated; at operation, it was well circumscribed and mobile without adhesion to adjacent tendon or nerve, and was easily removed. Figure 1. (a) Slightly elevated subcutaneous tumor (arrow) on the volar aspect of the right index finger. (b) gross appearance of the extirpated tumor, showing a well-circumscribed, whitish solid nodule Grossly, the tumor was a well-circumscribed, firm nodule (10 mm × 8 mm × 5 mm in size) (Fig. 1B). The cut surface was whitish, homogeneous, and solid without cystic lesions. Histologically, it was an unencapsulated, paucicellular dense, fibrous nodule with a concentric circular arrangement of collagen bundles (Fig. 2A). Amongst the fibrous bundles, a small number of ovoid/epithelioid or plump spindle cells were arranged in a corded, trabecular, or whorled (onion bulb-like) pattern (Fig. 2B); a storiform pattern was not noted. These cells were relatively uniform and had a somewhat elongated, slightly hyperchromatic nucleus with fine granular chromatin. Neither nuclear pleomorphism nor multinucleated cells were evident, and necrosis and mitotic figures were not observed. Periodic acid,Schiff (PAS) stain after diastase digestion highlighted the corded or whorled pattern of the tumor cells by encasing them. For immunohistochemical examination, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded serial tissue sections were stained by a labeled streptavidin,biotin method. The tumor cells were positive for vimentin and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) (Fig. 3A), and negative for pan-cytokeratin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CD34, ,-smooth muscle actin, desmin, and CD68. Type IV collagen and laminin (Fig. 3B) were detected along the cords or whorls of the tumor cells, similar to the staining pattern of the diastase-PAS reaction. Schwann cells and axonal components, immunoreactive for S100 protein and neurofilament, respectively, were focally detected just adjacent to the cords or whorls, although the tumor cells per se did not express these proteins. Consequently, the tumor was found to be perineurial in origin and was diagnosed as cutaneous sclerosing perineurioma. Figure 2. (a) Low-power view of the tumor, showing an unencapsulated, paucicellular, dense, fibrous nodule with a concentric circular arrangement of collagen bundles (hematoxylin and eosin stain: original magnification, ×15). (b) Higher magnification of the tumor, showing ovoid or epithelioid cells arranged in cords or whorls in the abundant collagen bundles (hematoxylin and eosin stain: original magnification, ×150) Figure 3. Immunohistochemical profiles of the tumor. The tumor cells are positive for epithelial membrane antigen (a) and are surrounded by laminin (b) (original magnification, ×150) [source]


Collagenous fibroma (desmoplastic fibroblastoma) of the finger in a child

PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2002
Jun Nishio
Collagenous fibroma (desmoplastic fibroblastoma) is a distinctive benign fibrous soft tissue tumor that typically occurs in the subcutaneous tissue or skeletal muscle in adults. We describe a case of collagenous fibroma in a 7-year-old boy who presented with a 1-cm solitary, firm nodule on the volar aspect of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the left little finger. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of spindle- and stellate-shaped cells embedded in a hypovascular, densely collagenous stroma. No mitotic figures, calcifications or necrosis were identified. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were diffusely positive for vimentin, but negative for smooth muscle actin, muscle-specific actin, desmin, cytokeratin, S-100 protein or CD34. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of collagenous fibroma in children. Our case report indicates that the clinicopathological features of collagenous fibroma in childhood are similar to those in adults. [source]


Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma on the palm with pulmonary metastases

THE JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2008
Junko NISHIMOTO
ABSTRACT A 41-year-old Japanese male had aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma with pulmonary metastases. He had an asymptomatic, solitary, dome-shaped, skin-colored firm nodule on his left palm for half year. The tumor consisted of multiple lobules of anaplastic epithelial cells with central necrosis. The neoplastic cells were immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin and S-100 protein. Two years after the lesion was removed, pulmonary nodular lesions were found on chest X-ray. On histopathological examination, the pulmonary biopsy specimens showed lobular proliferation of acantholytic tumor cells and some ductal structures associated with papillary projections. Five years after the initial removal of the lesion, the patient was referred to our hospital because of a recurrent skin nodule on his left palm. The recurrent skin tumor was found to have lobular proliferation of anaplastic cells. On immunohistochemistry, the pulmonary metastasis and the palmar skin nodules were identical. The tumor was diagnosed as an aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma. This report is a rare case of aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma that was diagnosed based on the histopathology of the pulmonary metastases, which showed ductal structures associated with papillary projections. [source]


Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis: a case report and review of the literature

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 11 2004
Jean E. Thomas MD
Background, Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is a rare, inherited condition characterized by tumor-like growth of hyalinized fibrous tissue on the head and neck, joint contractures, and gingival hypertrophy. There may be marked clinical heterogeneity. Methods, We present a case of a 3-year-old Haitian boy with multiple firm nodules on the scalp and chin without joint contractures or gingival hypertrophy. Family history was not available. Results, Biopsy specimens from three scalp nodules were processed with routine and immunohistochemical stains. The matrix was periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue positive. The cellular stromal component was positive for vimentin and scattered factor XIIIa positive cells were found. Osteoclast-like giant cells were also noted, and stained for CD68. Conclusions, Our patient had the nodular growths on the scalp and face that are characteristically found in JHF. Microscopic examination confirmed the diagnosis and showed scattered intracytoplasmic and extracellular eosinophilic globules in three separate biopsy specimens. These were positive with PAS. [source]