Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma on the face

Abstract

Leiomyosarcoma is a rare skin tumor, most common in white men in the fifth to eighth decades of life. Primary tumors are classified in dermal or subcutaneous, that differ by clinical and prognostic features. They may appear on any site of the body, but are rare on the face. A 54-year-old female was admitted with a 5cm exophytic nodular lesion of 8 months duration on the right cheek, site of previous chronic radiodermatitis. Histopathology revealed spindle-shaped cell neoplasia, positive for smooth muscle actin on immunohistochemistry. Cutaneous leiomyosarcomas on the face are rare and may occur in previously irradiated areas. Immunohistochemistry is mandatory for an accurate diagnosis. Its similarity with other tumors may complicate the diagnosis, with delay expansion of the tumor.

Introduction

Leiomyosarcoma is an uncommon smooth muscle malignant tumor, usually intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal. Cutaneous leiomyosarcomas are extremely rare, and represent 2% to 3% of soft tissue sarcomas.¹ They affect Caucasian individuals in 75% of cases and are 2- to 3-times more common in men. They can appear at any age, but are more commonly seen between the fifth and eighth decades of life.^1-3

Cutaneous leiomyosarcomas can be primary or metastatic. The primary forms are classified into dermal or subcutaneous, which have different management and prognosis.¹ Such classification depends on the percentage of the surface of the tumor that is present in the dermis: more than 90% for dermal tumors and less than 90% for subcutaneous.⁴ Dermal tumors usually arise from the arrector pili muscle, whereas the subcutaneous arise from the smooth muscle from the vessels.¹

They present as solitary and circumscribed nodules. Dermal tumors usually reach 2 to 3cm in diameter, while subcutaneous tumors grow larger than 2cm.^1,3,4 Pain, edema, pruritus and paresthesia could be associated.^1,4 These tumors occur on any part of the body, but rarely affect the face.^1,3

The prognosis of dermal tumors is almost always good, are cured by excision, recur in 30% to 50% of cases and rarely metastasize. Subcutaneous tumors, the most common, recur more frequently (50% to 70%) and show metastasis in 30% to 60% of cases, related to the size and degree of differentiation of the lesion.^1,3,4

This report presents a case of subcutaneous cutaneous leiomyosarcoma on an area of previous radiotherapy of the face and is relevant due to its clinical rarity.

Case Report

A 54-year-old female patient reported the appearance of a progressively enlarging nodule on the right cheek, associated to local pain, over the previous 8 months. She had past history of a nodular basal cell carcinoma 12 years previously on the same site, that was treated with excision and radiotherapy, progressing with chronic radiodermatitis. The dermatological examination revealed a 5-cm exophytic nodule on the right cheek, associated to edema of that half of the face (Figure 1). There was no past history of acquired or innate immunosuppression.

Figure 1.

Erythematous, vegetating, exophytic, bilobed, friable nodule, with infiltrated borders, 5cm in the larger diameter, on the right cheek. A - anterior view; B - posterior view

The nodule was excised with a shaving, and histopathology showed a monotonous proliferation of a fascicular pattern of spindle-shaped, pleomorphic cells, at times with a whirlwind pattern and interspersed with collagen fibers (Figure 2). Many mitotic figures were found (17 in 10 high power fields) (Figure 3). Immunohistochemistry was positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA) (clone 1A4) and negative for CD34 S100 protein (Figure 4). These findings allowed for the diagnosis of grade 3 leiomyosarcoma according to the Sarcoma Group classification of the Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer (FNCLCC), France.⁵

Figure 2.

Spindle-shaped cells in a fascicular pattern, some with nuclear atypia (Hematoxylin & eosin, X100)

Figure 3.

Smooth muscle spindle-shaped cells with mitotic figures (arrow) (Hematoxylin & eosin, X400)

Figure 4.

Multifocally positive smooth muscle actin (clone 1A4) (immunohistochemistry X400)

The patient was referred to a specialized oncologic service for surgical and radiotherapy treatments. One year later, an ultrasound evidenced foci of metastases to a periglandular lymph node of the right parotid. Pathology was suggestive of spindle-shaped cell sarcoma, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry panel with positive smooth cell muscle markers (SMA, calponin and muscle actin HHF35) and negative epithelial, fibrohistiocytic, skeletal muscle and melanoma markers.

Discussion

Cutaneous leiomyosarcomas occur on any part of the body — 50% to 75% on the lower limbs, 20% to 30% on the upper limbs, 10% to 15% on the trunk — but rarely affect the face (1% to 5%).^1,3 In our patient, the malignancy occurred on the face, a rare location.

Trauma, radiation, sun exposure and chemical substances are predisposing factors.⁶ The time from the radiation until the appearance of the leiomyosarcoma can vary from 3 to 24 years; in this case, it occurred after 12 years.²

Leiomyosarcoma histopathology shows a spindle-shaped cell malignancy, with eosinophilic cytoplasm and nuclei with blunt edges (“cigar-shaped”). Most are well to moderately differentiated.^7,8 Mitotic figures are easily found, especially in the deeper tumors.^3,7 There are many differential diagnoses to be considered; immunohistochemistry is essential for an accurate diagnosis (Table 1).⁴

Table 1.

Immunohistochemistry panel of the reported case and comparison with leiomyosarcoma and its main differential diagnoses

	Case	LMS	Melanoma	AFx	SCC	DFSP
SMA	P	100%	-/+	N	N	N
Desmin	N	60%	N	N	N	N
Pan cytokeratin	N	30%–40%	N	N	P	N
Vimentin	P	100%	P	P	N	P
S100	N	-/+	P	N	N	N
CD34	N	30%	N	-/+	N	P

SMA: smooth muscle actin ; LMS: leiomyosarcoma; AFx: atypical fibroxantoma; SCC: squamous cell carcinoma ; DFSP: dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; P: positive in most tumor cells ; - /+: rarely positive; N: negative. Adapted source: André et al., 2011.⁵

Confirmation of the diagnosis is based in the demonstration of desmin, α-SMA (smooth muscle actin α), muscle actin HHF35 and h-caldesmom. Some studies show that actin and h-caldesmom can be more sensitive than desmin in detecting smooth muscle malignancies.⁸ Leiomyosarcomas express vimentin and SMA in 100% of cases and desmin in 60% to 80% of them.^6,8 Positivity to at least one of these markers is necessary for the diagnosis.^8,9 Calponin is a protein related to the smooth muscle that strongly binds to actin. It is expressed in vascular and parenchyma smooth muscle and is also present in myofibroblasts and myoepithelial cells.⁸ A partial immunophenotypic similarity of leiomyosarcomas with other soft tissue tumors is not uncommon.^8,9

Excision with wide safety margins (3 cm to 5 cm), down to the fascia, is recommended for both types. Less than 1cm margins are linked to a higher rate of recurrence and metastasis.^2,3 Regarding survival, no benefit was demonstrated with the use of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy; nonetheless, radiotherapy is a common choice for high grade tumors.² Mohs micrographic surgery has been showing lower rates of recurrence.^1,3

Extension to the subcutis, high mitotic index and diameter larger than 1cm are morphological features associated to higher recurrence. Advanced age predicts a poorer prognosis, due to the higher incidence of high grade tumors. All patients should be followed up for a minimum of 5 to 10 years.^2,3

Cutaneous leiomyosarcomas usually metastasize to other cutaneous sites, mainly the scalp; visceral metastases are more common in the lungs, and regional lymph nodes can be affected in up to 25% of the cases.^3,7

Cutaneous leiomyosarcomas on the face are rare, and their similarity to other tumors can delay the diagnosis, with subsequent enlargement of the tumor and invasion of adjacent structures.¹⁰

Financial support: None.

Conflict of interest: None.