PRIMARY HEMORRHAGIC SPINDLE-CELL TUMOR OF THE LYMPH-NODES WITH AMIANTHOID STRUCTURES

An example of a benign haemorrhagic spindle cell tumour of the lymph n ode (synonym: intranodal myofibroblastoma) is presented, which was fir st described 5 years ago and has not as yet been documented in the Ger man literature. This rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm of the lymph nod e occurs almost exclusively in the inguinal region. Diagnostic criteri a include its composition of myofibroblastic cells (with immunoreactiv ity for vimentin and actin), which may show nuclear palisading, the pr esence of peripheral haemorrhage zones and the occurrence of character istic amianthoid structures, which have the ultrastructural appearance of dense meshworks of collagen fibers. Knowledge of this tumour entit y is important for differential diagnosis of primary and secondary mal ignant mesenchymal neoplasias of the lymph node.