Hui Min Tan

Synovial sarcoma is a rare malignant mesenchymal neoplasm that typically occurs in soft tissue sites, and the kidney is an uncommon primary location. Previous studies of primary renal synovial sarcoma are limited by small sample sizes, and our understanding remains incomplete. Here, we present the largest multi-institutional case series to date of primary renal synovial sarcoma, with a focus on novel and molecular findings. A total of 70 cases were contributed by multiple institutions. Comprehensive clinical and histopathologic data were collected and analyzed. The mean patient age was 40 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.9:1. The most common presenting signs and symptoms were pain and hematuria. The mean tumor size was 11.6 cm (range: 2.3 to 26 cm), with frequent cystic change and necrosis. The mean follow-up was 29 months (range: 2 to 129 mo), and the rates of metastasis, recurrence, and death due to disease were 62.7%, 33.3%, and 50.0%, respectively. Histologically, 56.1% were monophasic synovial sarcoma, 15.1% were biphasic, and 28.8% were poorly differentiated or showed round cell features. Molecularly, SS18::SSX2 fusion was detected in the majority of cases assessed (n=19), followed by SS18::SSX1 fusion (n=6) and a rare SS18::NEDD4 fusion (n=1). Given the morphologic and immunohistochemical overlaps with many other neoplasms, accurate diagnosis with preferably molecular techniques is crucial for appropriate prognostication and treatment of this aggressive tumor.

A 50-year-old woman with no past medical history presented with a left anterior chest wall mass that was clinically soft, mobile, and non-tender. A targeted ultrasound (US) showed findings suggestive of a lipoma. However, focal “mass-like” nodules seen within the inferior portion suggested malignant transformation of a lipomatous lesion called for cross sectional imaging, such as MRI or invasive biopsy or excision for histological confirmation. A T1-weighted image demonstrated a large lipoma that has a central fat-containing region surrounded by an irregular hypointense rim in the inferior portion, confirming the benignity of the lipoma. An ultrasound-guided photoacoustic imaging (PA) of the excised specimen to derive the biochemical distribution demonstrated the “mass-like” hypoechoic regions on US as fat-containing, suggestive of benignity of lesion, rather than fat-replacing suggestive of malignancy. The case showed the potential of PA as an adjunct to US in improving the diagnostic confidence in lesion characterization.

Adipocytic tumors are the most common subtype of soft tissue tumors. In current clinical practice, distinguishing benign lipomas from well-differentiated liposarcomas (WDLPS), as well as dedifferentiated liposarcomas (DDLPS) from their morphologic mimics, remains a significant diagnostic challenge. This is especially so when examining small biopsy samples and without the aid of additional ancillary tests. Recognizing the important role that microRNAs (miRNAs) play in tumorigenesis and their potential utility in tumor classification, we analyzed routine clinical tissue samples of benign and malignant lipomatous tumors, as well as other sarcoma mimics, to identify distinguishing miRNA-based signatures that can aid in the differential diagnosis of these entities. We discovered a 6-miRNA signature that separated lipomas from WDLPS with high confidence (AUC of 0.963), as well as a separate 6-miRNA signature that distinguished DDLPS from their more aggressive histologic mimics (AUC of 0.740). Functional enrichment analysis unveiled possible mechanistic involvement of these predictive miRNAs in adipocytic cancer-related biological processes and pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK signaling, further supporting the relevance of these miRNAs as biomarkers for adipocytic tumors. Our results demonstrate that miRNA expression profiling may potentially be used as an adjunctive tool for the diagnosis of benign and malignant adipocytic tumors. Further validation studies are warranted.

With the rapid development of various coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in a bid to counter and contain the COVID-19 pandemic, unusual and uncommon side effects of COVID-19 vaccination have been increasingly reported in the literature. Ipsilateral lymphadenopathy is a fairly common side effect of vaccination of any kind, with its etiology most commonly related to reactive lymphadenopathy. However, Kikuchi–Fujimoto Disease (KFD) or necrotizing histiocytic lymphadenitis is rarely observed post-vaccination, with only one other case of KFD post COVID-19 vaccination reported to date. We report two more cases of KFD post COVID-19 vaccination in the Asian population, highlighting the clinical course and salient clinical, radiological and histologic findings. In addition, we provide a literature review of the existing cases of lymphadenopathy post COVID-19 vaccination with cytologic and/or histologic correlation.