Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina with rare morphology: a case report and literature review

Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina (SCEV) is a rare female genital tract neoplasm with a complex morphology and immunophenotype easily resulting in misdiagnosis. The tumor was primarily composed of spindle and epithelioid cells. In this case, there was no obvious epithelial component in the tumo...

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Main Authors: Xian-bin Tang, Yuan-gui Xu, Li Yao, Ling-ling Yuan, Yu-gang Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1551607/full
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author Xian-bin Tang
Yuan-gui Xu
Li Yao
Ling-ling Yuan
Yu-gang Huang
author_facet Xian-bin Tang
Yuan-gui Xu
Li Yao
Ling-ling Yuan
Yu-gang Huang
author_sort Xian-bin Tang
collection DOAJ
description Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina (SCEV) is a rare female genital tract neoplasm with a complex morphology and immunophenotype easily resulting in misdiagnosis. The tumor was primarily composed of spindle and epithelioid cells. In this case, there was no obvious epithelial component in the tumor parenchyma, and only epithelioid cells with rounded nuclei were observed, which were tightly mixed with the spindle cells. Here, we describe a unique case of vaginal spindle cell epithelioma in a 51-year-old woman. In this tumor, mucoid degeneration and the formation of vacuoles or microcysts with varying sizes without epithelial lining were observed, and only a few glandular structures were observed in the periphery of the tumor. Immunohistochemical staining showed diffuse positivity for AE1/AE3, CK7, and CD10 in both spindle and epithelioid cells, and ER, PR, P63, and P40 were diffusely expressed in the spindle cells, while expressed to varying extents in epithelioidal cells. CD34 was expressed focally in spindle cells. No expression of Desmin, SMA, CD31, Caldesmon, TLE-1, WT-1, and SS18 was in the tumor, which could be differentiated from synovial sarcoma. Tumor cells were negative for S100 and positive for CD10 and BCL2 in their mesenchyme. There are conflicting reports on the tissue origin of SCEV, and the immunohistochemical staining of this case supports the hypothesis that SCEV originates from multipotent stem cells.
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spelling doaj-art-ff1b3363d304487783251fc40a345ca22025-08-20T03:57:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-08-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15516071551607Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina with rare morphology: a case report and literature reviewXian-bin Tang0Yuan-gui Xu1Li Yao2Ling-ling Yuan3Yu-gang Huang4Department of Pathology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, Zhuxi People’s Hospital, Shiyan, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, ChinaSpindle cell epithelioma of the vagina (SCEV) is a rare female genital tract neoplasm with a complex morphology and immunophenotype easily resulting in misdiagnosis. The tumor was primarily composed of spindle and epithelioid cells. In this case, there was no obvious epithelial component in the tumor parenchyma, and only epithelioid cells with rounded nuclei were observed, which were tightly mixed with the spindle cells. Here, we describe a unique case of vaginal spindle cell epithelioma in a 51-year-old woman. In this tumor, mucoid degeneration and the formation of vacuoles or microcysts with varying sizes without epithelial lining were observed, and only a few glandular structures were observed in the periphery of the tumor. Immunohistochemical staining showed diffuse positivity for AE1/AE3, CK7, and CD10 in both spindle and epithelioid cells, and ER, PR, P63, and P40 were diffusely expressed in the spindle cells, while expressed to varying extents in epithelioidal cells. CD34 was expressed focally in spindle cells. No expression of Desmin, SMA, CD31, Caldesmon, TLE-1, WT-1, and SS18 was in the tumor, which could be differentiated from synovial sarcoma. Tumor cells were negative for S100 and positive for CD10 and BCL2 in their mesenchyme. There are conflicting reports on the tissue origin of SCEV, and the immunohistochemical staining of this case supports the hypothesis that SCEV originates from multipotent stem cells.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1551607/fullspindle cell epithelioma of the vaginaimmunohistochemistrydiagnostic pathologygynecological pathologycase report
spellingShingle Xian-bin Tang
Yuan-gui Xu
Li Yao
Ling-ling Yuan
Yu-gang Huang
Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina with rare morphology: a case report and literature review
Frontiers in Oncology
spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina
immunohistochemistry
diagnostic pathology
gynecological pathology
case report
title Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina with rare morphology: a case report and literature review
title_full Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina with rare morphology: a case report and literature review
title_fullStr Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina with rare morphology: a case report and literature review
title_full_unstemmed Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina with rare morphology: a case report and literature review
title_short Spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina with rare morphology: a case report and literature review
title_sort spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina with rare morphology a case report and literature review
topic spindle cell epithelioma of the vagina
immunohistochemistry
diagnostic pathology
gynecological pathology
case report
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1551607/full
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