Myxoid tumours of soft tissue

Abstract

Myxoid tumours of soft tissues can be classified into 3 groups: I. Those in which mucin is consistently found and frequently dominates the histological picture; II. Those in which mucin production is often minimal but is of diagnostic importance; III. Those in which mucin production is an inconstant feature or is of less diagnostic-importance than in the first two groups. The first group includes ganglia and related lesions, intramuscular myxoma, the myxoid variant of nodular fasciitis, plexiform myxoma, spindle cell lipoma, myxolipoma, benign lipoblastoma and benign lipoblastomasis. myxoid neurofibroma, the myxoid variant of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, myxoid liposarcoma, extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, the myxoid variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, chordoma of soft tissues, myxopapillary ependymoma of soft tissues, and mucin secreting carcinoma metastatic to soft tissues. Eight cases of plexiform myxoma will be briefly reviewed. Plexiform myxomas are small, nodular or multinodular, solitary, intradermal and subcutaneous tumours which are commonest in the second and third decades. They have usually been noticed for several years before medical treatment is sought, they generally measure between 1 and 2 cm in diameter, arise both on the trunk and extremities but are often located on the hands. There is little evidence to suggest a relationship of plexiform myxoma to neural tumours or pacinian corpuscles. Plexiform myxoma appears to be benign. Myxoid tumours of soft tissues can be classified into 3 groups: I. Those in which mucin is consistently found and frequently dominates the histological picture; II. Those in which mucin production is often minimal but is of diagnostic importance; III. Those in which mucin production is an inconstant feature or is of less diagnostic-importance than in the first two groups. The first group includes ganglia and related lesions, intramuscular myxoma, the myxoid variant of nodular fasciitis, plexiform myxoma, spindle cell lipoma, myxolipoma, benign lipoblastoma and benign lipoblastomasis. myxoid neurofibroma, the myxoid variant of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, myxoid liposarcoma, extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, the myxoid variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, chordoma of soft tissues, myxopapillary ependymoma of soft tissues, and mucin secreting carcinoma metastatic to soft tissues. Eight cases of plexiform myxoma will be briefly reviewed. Plexiform myxomas are small, nodular or multinodular, solitary, intradermal and subcutaneous tumours which are commonest in the second and third decades. They have usually been noticed for several years before medical treatment is sought, they generally measure between 1 and 2 cm in diameter, arise both on the trunk and extremities but are often located on the hands. There is little evidence to suggest a relationship of plexiform myxoma to neural tumours or pacinian corpuscles. Plexiform myxoma appears to be benign.