[WHO classification of tumours of soft tissue and bone 2013: the main changes compared to the 3rd edition]

Abstract

In early 2013, the new classification of tumours of soft tissue and bones was released. This edition belongs to the fourth series of so-called Blue Books published under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The current classification follows the previous third edition, from which it differs in several aspects. The vast majority of changes are related to the soft tissue tumour section, which was enriched with three new chapters, some entities or terms were removed, new diagnoses were introduced, and several tumours were reallocated to other categories. Albeit to a lesser extent, similar changes have occurred also in the classification of bone tumours. Compared to the previous edition, more detailed molecular and cytogenetic data were incorporated in the current issue. The rapidly increasing knowledge of the genetics of mesenchymal tumours allows us to make more accurate diagnoses as well as to better understand of the pathogenesis of these lesions. However, abundant molecular and cytogenetic data highlight an increasing problem of growing numbers of genetic overlaps even among quite different tumours. The coexistence of several grading systems of soft tissue tumours is another controversial issue mentioned in the recent WHO classification. The main advantages and limitations of the two most widely used grading systems are also discussed.