Askin tumor with metastasis to the scalp: a histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Abstract

A 29-year-old woman presented with facial edema, and imaging disclosed a tumor extending from the anterior chest wall to the anterosuperior aspect of the mediastinum. Transbronchial cytology of the primary tumor and biopsy of the metastatic scalp lesion were performed. Histologically, the tumor consisted of closely packed small round cells. The neoplastic cells generally had round nuclei, finely dispersed chromatin, and small to prominent nucleoli. Histochemically, the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells contained abundant glycogen and stained with Grimelius silver. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cell membranes reacted with CD99 (MIC2) and the neoplastic nuclei reacted with Fli-1, but various other markers, including lymphocyte and skeletal muscle markers, were not detected. No neoplastic cells were also reactive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and neurofilament. Ultrastructurally, some neoplastic cells had delicate cytoplasmic processes and contained membrane-bound dense core granules in the cytoplasm. Even if results are immunohistochemically negative for neuroendocrine markers, the combination of immunohistochemistry of CD99 (MIC2) and Fil-1 may be useful in diagnosing Askin tumor or its metastatic lesion.