CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF SOFT-TISSUE NEOPLASMS WITH SELECTIVE IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION: A RETROSPECTIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF 154 CASES

Abstract

Soft-tissue neoplasms comprise a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors characterized by considerable diversity in histogenesis, morphology, biological behavior, and clinical presentation. Histopathological examination remains central to their diagnosis, supplemented by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular investigations in selected diagnostically challenging tumors. This retrospective descriptive observational study aimed to characterize the clinicopathological spectrum of soft-tissue neoplasms diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital, attached to Government Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai, India, from January 2024 to January 2026. A total of 154 histopathologically diagnosed soft-tissue neoplasms were included. Demographic characteristics, anatomical site, gross and microscopic findings, final histopathological diagnosis, Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer (FNCLCC) grade where documented, and available IHC findings were analyzed. The mean age was 47.49 ± 17.34 years, with a median age of 48.5 years (interquartile range, 34.0–60.75 years) and a range of 7–82 years. There were 83 males (53.9%) and 71 females (46.1%), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.17:1. Lipoma was the predominant diagnosis, accounting for 82 cases (53.2%), followed by schwannoma in 10 (6.5%), neurofibroma in 8 (5.2%), and fibroma in 6 (3.9%). The series also included a heterogeneous spectrum of intermediate and malignant soft-tissue neoplasms. FNCLCC grade was documented in 21 cases, with seven cases each classified as grades 1, 2, and 3. IHC findings were available in 21 cases and were used selectively as ancillary diagnostic evidence. The findings demonstrate the broad histopathological diversity of soft-tissue neoplasms encountered in tertiary-care pathology practice, with benign adipocytic tumors constituting the predominant component. Accurate diagnosis requires integration of clinical information and histomorphology with appropriately selected ancillary investigations. Molecular and genetic findings were not available in the present dataset and were therefore not inferred.