Running GAGs: myxoid matrix in tumor pathology revisited: what's in it for the pathologist?

Ever since Virchow introduced the entity myxoma, abundant myxoid extracellular matrix (ECM) has been recognized in various reactive and neoplastic lesions. Nowadays, the term "myxoid" is commonly used in daily pathological practice. But what do today's pathologists mean by it, and what does the myxoid ECM tell the pathologist? What is known about the exact composition and function of the myxoid ECM 150 years after Virchow? Here, we give an overview of the composition and constituents of the myxoid ECM as known so far and demonstrate the heterogeneity of the myxoid ECM among different tumors.

Soft tissue tumours of the retroperitoneum.

Purpose. This review summarizes the more prevalent soft tissue tumours arising in the retroperitoneum and highlights some recent fundamental and diagnostic developments relevant to mesenchymal tumours.Discussion.

Aggressive angiomyxoma: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 11 cases with long-term follow-up.

Aims: To report the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features and longer term biological behaviour of aggressive angiomyxoma, an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm occurring predominantly in the pelvi-perineal region of adults. Using immunohistochemistry, possible overexpression of CDK4 and MDM2 was analysed, which might point to (cyto)genetic alteration(s) in chromosome region 12q13-15, an area reported to be altered in this tumour entity.

Methods And Results: Cases (n=11) of aggressive angiomyxoma were retrieved from the consultation files of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of the Middle Netherlands (IKMN) panel for soft tissue tumours.

Cellular myxoma of soft tissue: a clinicopathological study of 38 cases confirming indolent clinical behaviour.

Aims: To characterize the clinicopathological features and biological potential of a group of soft tissue lesions with morphology intermediate between intramuscular myxoma and low-grade myxofibrosarcoma.

Methods And Results: Thirty-eight lesions in 37 patients were retrieved from the authors' consultation files. Clinical and follow-up data were obtained and the lesions were also studied immunohistochemically.