Atypical fatty rumors present problems of terminology and diagnosis. While
atypical fatty tumors that are located in subcutaneous tissues have an extr
emely good prognosis, local recurrence and transformation to a higher grade
tumor may occur. Alien et al document the morphologic features and behavio
r of 37 atypical subcutaneous fatty tumors and describe a system of grading
. The commentary dis cusses the terminology of atypical fatty turners, the
relevance of the proposed grading system, and the significance of a spindle
cell component in atypical subcutaneous fatty tumors.