Metastatic cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma-utility of array based comparative genomic hybridization in supporting metastatic disease years out from the initial diagnosis: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

Cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma (cFH) is a common benign mesenchymal neoplasm. Although most cases of cFH behave indolently, rare cases have been reported that show aggressive behavior. At least 41 cases of metastatic fibrous histiocytoma (metFH) have been previously reported, with only eleven cases of fibrous histiocytomas that eventually metastasized analyzed with aCGH thus far. These limited studies have proposed that the number of chromosomal aberrations increases along a spectrum in cutaneous fibrous histiocytomas, making array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) a potential tool for recognizing aggressive cFHs and metastatic disease, especially when the time interval from the primary diagnosis is prolonged. Herein, we report a case of metastasizing cellular fibrous histiocytoma in which aCGH analysis of the primary and metastatic tumors demonstrated multiple shared chromosomal aberrations, helping support metastatic disease (nine years out from the initial diagnosis) and briefly review the current literature on aCGH and its role in predicting aggressive behavior in such neoplasms. Keywords: Cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma, Array-based comparative genomic hybridization, Cellular fibrous histiocytoma, Metastasizing fibrous histiocytoma