# Epithelioid Fibrous Histiocytoma (EFH) With Rare PPFIBP1-ALK Fusion: A Predominantly Spindle Cell Variant Within the Emerging Spectrum of Myxoid Spindle Cell EFH

**Authors:** Eli P Oldham, Svetlana Bobkova, Patti Loykasek, Jennifer Roberts, Igor Shendrik

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.86361 · 2025-06-19

## TL;DR

This paper describes a rare case of a benign tumor with a specific genetic fusion and spindle cell features, expanding the known spectrum of a recently identified tumor type.

## Contribution

The paper presents a rare PPFIBP1-ALK fusion case in a spindle cell variant of EFH, contributing to the emerging classification of myxoid spindle cell EFH.

## Key findings

- A 56-year-old male had a spindle cell variant of EFH with PPFIBP1-ALK fusion.
- Immunohistochemistry showed ALK and other marker expressions consistent with EFH.
- The case is classified within the myxoid spindle cell EFH spectrum (SAMS).

## Abstract

Epithelioid fibrous histiocytoma (EFH) is a benign fibrohistiocytic neoplasm characterized by morphologic heterogeneity and recurrent anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements. We present a rare case of EFH located on the lateral neck of a 56-year-old male patient, demonstrating a predominantly spindle cell morphology. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed granular cytoplasmic positivity for ALK, along with expression of CD68, CD4, epithelial membrane antigen, caldesmon, and smooth muscle actin. Next-generation sequencing confirmed the presence of a rare PPFIBP1-ALK fusion. The presented case highlights a predominantly spindle cell variant of EFH and suggests inclusion within the recently described myxoid spindle cell EFH spectrum, which encompasses the superficial ALK-rearranged myxoid spindle cell neoplasms (SAMS).

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 238], PPFIBP1 (PPFIB scaffold protein 1) [NCBI Gene 8496]
- **Proteins:** ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase), CD68 (CD68 molecule), CD4 (CD4 molecule), Cald1 (caldesmon 1)
- **Diseases:** SAMS (MONDO:0011227)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CD68 (CD68 molecule) [NCBI Gene 968] {aka GP110, LAMP4, SCARD1}, ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 238] {aka ALK1, CD246, NBLST3}, PPFIBP1 (PPFIB scaffold protein 1) [NCBI Gene 8496] {aka L2, NEDSMBA, SGT2, hSGT2, hSgt2p}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4}, CALD1 (caldesmon 1) [NCBI Gene 800] {aka CDM, H-CAD, HCAD, L-CAD, LCAD, NAG22}
- **Diseases:** Myxoid Spindle Cell (MESH:D002277), EFH (MESH:D018219), fibrohistiocytic neoplasm (MESH:D009369)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12276020/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12276020