Nodular fasciitis may closely mimic sarcoma and other soft-tissue tumors, making molecular testing important for avoiding unnecessary aggressive treatment, according to a retrospective case series. Researchers reviewed 29 cases and found that many lesions had atypical clinical, radiologic, or histologic features that complicated diagnosis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization identified USP6 rearrangements in most tested cases, while next-generation sequencing detected USP6 gene fusions even in tumors with negative or inconclusive fluorescence testing. Investigators also identified several rare fusion partners associated with unusual tumor features. The findings highlighted the value of molecular testing when benign nodular fasciitis presents with sarcoma-like characteristics.

Source: Pathology