Reactive nodular fibrous pseudotumors of the gastrointestinal tract: report of 8 cases

Int J Surg Pathol. 2004 Oct;12(4):365-74. doi: 10.1177/106689690401200409.

Abstract

Eight cases of reactive nodular fibrous pseudotumor of the gastrointestinal tract are presented. The patients included 6 males and 2 females between the ages of 1 and 68 years (mean age 41.5 years). Three tumors involved the small intestine, and 5 of the investigated lesions were located in the large bowel. Of these, 2 originated in the sigmoid colon, 1 in the cecum, 1 in the appendix, and 1 in the large bowel not otherwise specified. The tumors' size varied from 3 to 10 cm in the greatest diameter (mean 6.2 cm). Histologically they were composed of stellate or spindle shaped cells resembling fibroblasts arranged haphazardly or in intersecting fascicles, embedded in a collagen-rich stroma, with sparse intralesional mononuclear cells frequently arranged in lymphoid aggregates. Immunohistochemically, the lesions were positive for vimentin (7/7), smooth muscle actin (8/8), muscle-specific actin (5/7), cytokeratins AE1/AE3 (6/7), and CAM 5.2 (1/7), and antigen CD68 (1/7). No case (0/8) reacted positively with antibody to CD117 (c-kit). Genetically no substitutions, deletions, or insertions occurred in exon 11 in all analyzed samples. Likewise, no deletions or insertions in part of exon 9 were observed. Ultrastructurally the tumor cells revealed features typical of myofibroblasts. According to the morphologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features mentioned above, especially to the positivity of low-molecular-weight cytokeratins, we propose this lesion to be related to a proliferation of multipotential subserosal cells rather than ordinary myofibroblasts or fibroblasts.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Female
  • Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Fibrosis / pathology*
  • Fibrosis / surgery
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / metabolism
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / pathology*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / surgery
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers