Abstract
Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms composed of perivascular epithelioid cells that are immunoreactive for both melanocytic and myogenic markers. Recently, a fibroma-like PEComa associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) has been identified. We describe the first intra-articular case of a fibroma-like PEComa in a 44-year-old man who presented with a hypointense intra-articular knee mass, which was mistaken for tenosynovial giant cell tumor, diffuse type. This case report demonstrates that fibroma-like PEComa should be included in the extended differential diagnosis of intra-articular soft tissue masses. In addition, given their strong association with TSC mutations, a diagnosis of fibroma-like PEComa should trigger an evaluation for TSC.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Argani P, Aulmann S, Illei PB, Netto GJ, Ro J, Cho HY, et al. A distinctive subset of PEComas harbors TFE3 gene fusions. Am J Surg Pathol. 2010;34(10):1395–406.
Bonetti F, Pea M, Martignoni G, Zamboni G. PEC and sugar. Am J Surg Pathol. 1992;16(3):307–8.
Cho HY, Chung DH, Khurana H, Zhai QJ, Ro JY. The role of TFE3 in PEComa. Histopathology. 2008;53(2):236–49.
Folpe AL, Mentzel T, Lehr HA, Fisher C, Balzer BL, Weiss SW. Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasms of soft tissue and gynecologic origin: a clinicopathologic study of 26 cases and review of the literature. Am J Surg Pathol. 2005;29(12):1558–75.
Koch MB, Shih IM, Weiss SW, Folpe AL. Microphthalmia transcription factor and melanoma cell adhesion molecule expression distinguish desmoplastic/spindle cell melanoma from morphologic mimics. Am J Surg Pathol. 2001;25(1):58–64.
Desy NM, Bernstein M, Nahal A, Aziz M, Kenan S, Turcotte RE, et al. Primary perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm (PEComa) of bone: report of two cases and review of the literature. Skelet Radiol. 2012;41(11):1469–74.
Lao IW, Yu L, Wang J. Malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) of the femur: a case report and literature review. Diagn Pathol. 2015;10(54).
Righi A, Dimosthenous K, Rosai J. PEComa: another member of the MiT tumor family? Int J Surg Pathol. 2008;16(1):16–20.
Sadigh S, Shah P, Weber K, Sebro R, Zhang PJ. Primary malignant perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm (PEComa) of the bone mimicking granular cell tumor in core biopsy: a case report and literature review. Oncol Lett. 2018;15(3):2946–52.
Yamashita K, Fletcher CD. PEComa presenting in bone: clinicopathologic analysis of 6 cases and literature review. Am J Surg Pathol. 2010;34(11):1622–9.
Larque AB, Kradin RL, Chebib I, Nielsen GP, Selig MK, Thiele EA, et al. Fibroma-like PEComa: a tuberous sclerosis complex-related lesion. Am J Surg Pathol. 2018;42(4):500–5.
Crino PB, Nathanson KL, Henske EP. The tuberous sclerosis complex. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(13):1345–56.
Henske EP, Jozwiak S, Kingswood JC, Sampson JR, Thiele EA. Tuberous sclerosis complex. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016;2(16035).
Pan CC, Chung MY, Ng KF, Liu CY, Wang JS, Chai CY, et al. Constant allelic alteration on chromosome 16p (TSC2 gene) in perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa): genetic evidence for the relationship of PEComa with angiomyolipoma. J Pathol. 2008;214(3):387–93.
Varshney MK, Jain M, Sud A, Agarwal S, Nain M. Unusual multicentric angiomyolipoma of knee joint and soft tissue foot. Joint Bone Spine. 2011;78(1):85–7.
Hornick JL, Fletcher CD. PEComa: what do we know so far? Histopathology. 2006;48(1):75–82.
Hornick JL, Fletcher CD. Sclerosing PEComa: clinicopathologic analysis of a distinctive variant with a predilection for the retroperitoneum. Am J Surg Pathol. 2008;32(4):493–501.
Liegl B, Hornick JL, Fletcher CD. Primary cutaneous PEComa: distinctive clear cell lesions of skin. Am J Surg Pathol. 2008;32(4):608–14.
Thway K, Fisher C. PEComa: morphology and genetics of a complex tumor family. Ann Diagn Pathol. 2015;19(5):359–68.
Jacobson JA, Lenchik L, Ruhoy MK, Schweitzer ME, Resnick D. MR imaging of the infrapatellar fat pad of Hoffa. Radiographics. 1997;17(3):675–91.
Adams ME, Saifuddin A. Characterisation of intra-articular soft tissue tumours and tumour-like lesions. Eur Radiol. 2007;17(4):950–8.
Chen CK, Yeh LR, Pan HB, Yang CF, Lu YC, Wang JS, et al. Intra-articular gouty tophi of the knee: CT and MR imaging in 12 patients. Skelet Radiol. 1999;28(2):75–80.
Funding
NIH grant K24 DK-109940.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Ethical approval
IRB approval was not required for this case report per guidelines of our institution’s IRB and no informed consent was required.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harvey, J.P., Suster, D.I., Raskin, K.A. et al. Intra-articular fibroma-like perivascular epithelioid tumor (PEComa) mimicking tenosynovial giant cell tumor, diffuse type. Skeletal Radiol 48, 965–969 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-3065-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-3065-7