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Background: A sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is an uncommon tumor of the deep soft tissue. An SEF has been described as a low-grade tumor with high local recurrence and metastatic rates. Generally, in bone and soft tissue tumors, a resection of the biopsy route is recommended; however, there is limited evidence with respect to the dissemination of the tumor tissue during a needle biopsy. Case presentation: A mass in the right pelvic cavity, with no symptoms, was observed in a 45-year-old woman during a gynecological examination. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a multilocular mass with calcification in the pelvic cavity. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an iso-signal intensity on T1 weighted images and hypo- and iso-signal intensity on T2 weighted images. The CT-guided core needle biopsy was performed using a dorsal approach, and the biopsy diagnosis was a low-grade spindle cell tumor. The tumor was excised using an anterior approach. The tumor tissue comprised spindle cells and epithelioid cells with irregular nuclei, and the immunohistological analysis was positive for vimentin and epithelial membrane antigen, which was consistent with a diagnosis of sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma. Five years after the surgery, the MRI showed a tumor recurrence in the subcutaneous tissue of the right buttock, which was consistent with the needle biopsy tract. The patient underwent a tumor excision, and the resected tumor was similar to the primary tumor. Conclusions: The recurrent tumor was excised with a surgical margin, and the tumor specimen had the histological features of a sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma. It was difficult to investigate the association of the core needle biopsy with the tumor recurrence because the approach of the biopsy tract is usually same as that used in a tumor excision. However, the present case indicated the tumor may recur in the biopsy tract of a soft tissue sarcoma. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of disseminating tumor tissues in a needle biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is described as a distinct atypical myofibroblastic tumor often with fibromatosis-like features and predilection for the head and neck, especially the oral cavity and larynx. LGMS arising in the levator scapulae muscle is extremely rare.Case Presentation: A 69-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because she noticed a hard mass in her left neck six months prior. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) showed a soft tissue tumor of the left levator scapulae muscle. A core needle biopsy showed cellular fascicles or a storiform growth pattern of spindle-shaped tumor cells with minimally atypia. Immunohistochemistry revealed focally positive for α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), negative for S-100, and a low-grade spindle cell sarcoma was suspected. Following a biopsy, the tumor was resected with a wide surgical margin. Immunohistochemical staining was a positive for vimentin and α-SMA and negative for desmin, CD34, nuclear β-catenin, and h-caldesmon. LGMS diagnosis was determined based on the histopathological findings. The patient was alive with no evidence of disease eight years after the surgery.Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of LGMS arising in the levator scapulae muscle. In addition to the case report, 48 reports with 103 LGMS cases are reviewed and discussed. In previous reports of LGMS, there were 43 females and 60 males, with a mean age of 43.0 years (range, 2-75). There were 13 (12.6%) patients aged < 18 years, 67 (65.1%) patients aged 18 to 59 years, and 23 (22.3%) patients aged ≥60 years. The average tumor size was 4.4 cm (range: 0.4-22.0). The commonest sites of LGMS was the tongue. Tumor growth patterns were evaluated in 52 cases, and 44 cases (84.6%) showed infiltrative growth patterns. Local recurrence was 26.7%, and distant metastasis was 4.4%. Because of the locally aggressive feature, it is important to diagnose LGMS with biopsy and to excise the tumor with an adequately wide margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]