Atypical Presentation of Spindle Cell Lipoma in a Young Male with a History of Malignant Melanoma

Abstract

Spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is a benign adipocytic tumor usually found in the subcutis of the posterior neck, upper back, and shoulder, predominantly in middle-aged males. This case report describes an atypical presentation of SCL in a 26-year-old male with a history of malignant melanoma. The patient presented with an erythematous plaque with central hyperpigmentation on the right upper arm, an uncommon location and presentation for SCL. Histopathological examination revealed an atypical myxoid spindle cell neoplasm with CD34 positivity and an overlying mildly atypical compound melanocytic nevus. The unusual clinical and histological features, combined with the patient’s melanoma history, complicated the differential diagnosis, which included dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) and solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs). A wide local excision with 2 cm margins was performed, and subsequent pathology confirmed clear margins, supporting the diagnosis of SCL. This case highlights the importance of including SCL in the differential diagnosis of CD34-positive spindle cell tumors, even when clinical and histological presentations are atypical, and underscores the need for thorough histopathological evaluation and a broad differential diagnosis in patients with a history of melanoma.