Neurothekeoma pathology

Neurothekeoma is a benign cutaneous neoplasm. It is histologically divided into myxoid and cellular types, which may actually be two completely different entities. The myxoid variant of neurothekeoma is of neural origin. The cellular variant, however, is of questionable origin.

Histology of neurothekeoma

Cellular neurothekeoma

The cellular subtype of neurothekeoma is composed of a circumscribed proliferation of spindled and epithelioid cells in lobules and fascicles. Sclerotic collagen is common between the lobules (figures 1, 2, 3). Intermixed giant cells may be seen.

Myxoid neurothekeoma

The cells are embedded within a myxoid stroma. Like the cellular variant of neurothekeoma, the myxoid neurothekeoma displays a lobulated growth pattern (figure 4, 5).

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Special studies for neurothekeoma

Cellular neurothekeoma — NKI/C3, PGP9.5, S100 A6 are usually positive. S100 is negative (in contrast to the myxoid type).

Myxoid neurothekeoma — S100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positivity.

Differential diagnosis of neurothekeoma pathology

Schwannoma — The myxoid type of neurothekeoma is thought to be of neural origin and as such may resemble schwannoma. Myxoid neurothekeoma lacks Verocay bodies and the Antoni A, B arrangement seen in schwannoma.

Melanocytic tumour — The solid nested growth pattern of cellular neurothekeoma may resemble a melanocytic tumour. Melanocytic lesions are almost invariably S100 positive while cellular neurothekeoma is S100 negative.