Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma with cystic structures of sweat duct origin

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is an unusual soft tissue tumor, mostly arising in the subcutaneous fibro-adipose tissue of children and young adults and measuring a few centimeters in greatest dimension. Reported herein is a unique case of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma containing epithelium-lined cystic structures. This large tumor (12 cm) was located in the subcutaneous tissue of the left leg of a 28-year-old woman. The cystic structures were variably sized and were lined by a double cell layer with areas of squamous metaplasia. Their overall histological features suggested a sweat duct origin. Immunohistochemical stains confirmed such origin, demonstrating an inner epithelial and an outer myoepithelial (smooth muscle actin and cytokeratin 17 positive) cell layer. The present case is illustrative of a mechanism of sweat duct dilatation that may occur during the growth of neoplasms involving the dermis and subcutis, resulting in formation of tumors with unusual histological features.