Acral calcified vascular leiomyoma of the skin: a rare clinicopathological variant of cutaneous vascular leiomyomas: report of 3 cases.

BACKGROUND

Several histopathologic variants of cutaneous leiomyomas have been recognized. In our consultation dermatopathology practice, we encountered a variant of cutaneous leiomyoma which, to our knowledge, has not been reported.

OBJECTIVE

We report 3 cases of vascular leiomyomas, all of them manifesting prominent intratumoral calcifications dominating over the residuum of the tumors and occurring on the acral sites.

METHODS

We conducted a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study, which is complemented by a literature review.

RESULTS

All 3 patients were women ranging in age from 57 to 72 years. Each presented clinically with a slowly growing, firm mass. The lesion was painful in two cases. None of the patients had renal disease or endocrine abnormalities. Microscopically, the lesions were a well-circumscribed, non-encapsulated neoplasm composed of mature smooth muscle cells and vascular pattern, which was inconspicuous, but focally dilated blood vessels were present. In all cases, prominent calcifications were present. Immunohistochemically the spindle cells were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin.

LIMITATIONS: This study utilizes tissue specimens that all came as consultations; therefore, some inherent selection bias exists.

CONCLUSION

Acral calcified vascular leiomyoma is a rare clinicopathological variant of leiomyoma which has predilection for acral sites and shows massive calcifications prevailing over the tumor itself.