Intraabdominal Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma: A Case Report

Kojima et al. & Chen et al. [1] in the year 1982 jointly gave the name Follicular dendritic cells to the non lymphoid cells in germinal centers with desmonemes [1]. Tew et al. [2] defined the functional significance of these cells in that they trap and retain the antigen antibody complexes on their surface and express Fc and C3 receptors [2]. So far numerous research into origin of Follicular dendritic cells have failed to decipher the origin of FDCs [3]. The existence of a primary neoplasm of the follicular dendritic cell was first recognized in 1986 by Monda et al. [4]. FDCS is grouped with the histiocytic and dendritic cell neoplasm by the World Health Organization classification of tumor [5]. Approximately 150 cases have been reported in English literature so far [6]. There is a wide age range with mean age of presentation being 44 years [5]. The most common presentation is lymph node enlargement (64%), but the frequency of extra nodal occurrence is probably underestimated because on assessment of morphology and site of presentation they are likely to be misdiagnosed as other sarcomas. Chan JK et al. [7] in his assessment of 17 cases of FDCS considered it to be at least of intermediate grade malignancy [7]. The exact aetiology of FDC tumour is unknown. A minority of nodal cases developed with pre-existing or simultaneous Castleman’s disease of hyaline-vascular type [7]. Complete excision, if feasible, is the recommended treatment for FDC sarcomas. Intraabdominal tumors, because of their documented aggressive behavior, require adjuvant chemotherapy.