Cellular angiofibroma of the vulva: a clinicopathological study of two cases with documentation of some unusual features and review of the literature

Abstract

This study further illustrates that CA of the vulva has distinct clinical and pathologic features that set it apart from the other soft tissue conditions involving this area. However, like many soft tissue neoplasms, this tumor also exhibits some variation in its histological or immunohistochemical features.

Painful cellular angiofibroma of the vulva: Case report

“…Cellular angiofibroma may show cellular atypia or morphologic features of sarcomatous transformation 12 . The distinction of cellular angiofibroma from other common vulvar region neoplasms is predominantly by morphology, although immunohistochemistry studies may contribute 13 . Cellular angiofibromas are characte rised by vimentin positivity with negative staining for desmin, α smooth muscle actin and S-100 protein 1 .…”

“…Cellular angiofibromas are characte rised by vimentin positivity with negative staining for desmin, α smooth muscle actin and S-100 protein 1 . Negative staining for desmin and α smooth muscle actin helps to exclude myofibroblastic differentiation, while the lack of staining for S-100 protein excludes a nerve sheath tumour 13 . When first described, cellular angiofibroma was characteristically found in middle-aged women 1 ; however recent literature shows that that this tumour occurs equally in women and men, with women affected most often in the fifth decade, and males in the seventh decade.…”

Combined surgical and medical management for recurrent cellular angiofibroma of vulva in a young female - a case report

“…1,2,5 Moreover, immunohistochemistry plays an important role in differentiating this tumour from other vulvo-vaginal tumours. Cellular angiofibromas are consistently positive for vimentin with variable expression of CD34 and desmin, and negative for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and S-100.…”

“…[8][9][10] It has been postulated that the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors suggest a role in pathogenesis of the tumor. 5 Differential diagnoses of cellular angiofibroma are spindle cell lipoma, angiomyofibroblastoma, spindle cell lipoma. They have both morphological and immunohistochemical similarities.…”

“…3,4 Recently, one report of local vulvar recurrence after six months of surgery reflects continued growth of residual disease, rather than local aggression. 3,5 Complete surgical removal is of paramount importance in angiofibroma as this tumour is almost always encapsulated and vascular. 3 Surgical removal with its complete capsule ensures complete removal of tumour with added advantage of minimizing blood loss.…”