Follicular dendritic cell tumor of the cervical lymph node.

Follicular dendritic cell (FDC) tumor is an uncommon sarcoma, which occurs in lymph nodes or in extranodal sites. A 61-year-old female was referred to our hospital because of a nontender mass on her neck. The mass was surgically removed and initially diagnosed as a metastasis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH). Because the subsequent progress was inconsistent with the common prognosis of a patient with MFH, the possibility of FDC tumor was taken into consideration. Immunohistological studies for FDC antigens, such as CD21 and CD35, led to final diagnosis. It is suggested that FDC tumor should be included in the diagnostic considerations when a spindle cell tumor is present in a lymph node. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel