Retrospective case series uncovers distinctive vascular patterns and gene fusions in angiofibroma of soft tissue, highlighting key criteria to prevent misdiagnosis of benign lesions.
Key Points
To identify distinctive cytological and genetic features of angiofibroma of soft tissue (AFST) to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Reviewed 16 histologically confirmed AFST cases diagnosed between 2007 and 2025 at a single institution (N=16).
Evaluated stromal composition, vascular patterns, cellularity, and cytomorphology alongside FISH testing for AHRR::NCOA2 and AHRR::NCOA3 gene fusions.
Collagenous stroma appeared in 62.5% of cases, mixed collagenous/myxoid in 31.2%, and purely myxoid in 6.2%.
Protruding marginal vessels were present in 87.5% of cases, while reticular vascular networks appeared in 43.8% overall and 83.3% of myxoid cases.
WHO reporting classified 75.0% of cases as nonbenign (62.5% STNUMP; 12.5% atypical), while FISH confirmed AHRR::NCOA2 in 14 cases and AHRR::NCOA3 in 2 cases.