Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma: Diagnosis of a rare soft tissue tumor based on fine needle aspiration cytology

Abstract

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma with limited literature available on its cytological features. We report here one such case where a diagnosis of EMC was made based on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). A 51 year-old male presented to our FNAC clinic with a slowly growing mass in the left thigh, which was subjected to fine needle aspiration biopsy. Radiological images showed no involvement of the underlying bone. Magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of a malignant neoplasm. The FNA smears showed cell fragments and cords of monotonous cells embedded in abundant myxoid stroma. A diagnosis of a myxoid sarcoma favoring an EMC was made in this patient. Subsequent excision of the mass for histopathological examination confirmed this diagnosis. EMC has distinctive cytological features that are helpful in confidently making a diagnosis in the appropriate clinical setting.