Presented at the Triological Society Combined Sections Meeting, Miami, Florida, U.S.A., January 26–28, 2012.
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Head and Neck
Article first published online: 1 MAY 2012
DOI: 10.1002/lary.23350
Copyright © 2012 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bowe, S. N., Wakely, P. E. and Ozer, E. (2012), Head and neck solitary fibrous tumors: Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The Laryngoscope, 122: 1748–1755. doi: 10.1002/lary.23350
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The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 25 JUL 2012
- Article first published online: 1 MAY 2012
- Accepted manuscript online: 11 APR 2012 02:21PM EST
- Manuscript Accepted: 16 MAR 2012
- Manuscript Revised: 8 MAR 2012
- Manuscript Received: 14 FEB 2012
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Solitary fibrous tumor(s);
- head and neck;
- extrapleural;
- spindle cell neoplasm;
- hemangiopericytoma;
- Level of Evidence: 4
Abstract
Objectives/Hypothesis:
Head and neck solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are quite rare, with <200 cases reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to analyze the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of this rare disease while reporting the largest head and neck case series.
Study Design:
Retrospective review.
Methods:
Between 1991 and 2011, 13 cases of head and neck SFTs from the pathology database were identified. Demographic, clinical, radiologic, and pathologic data were then abstracted and compiled for review.
Results:
SFT presented nearly equally as asymptomatic slow-growing masses or with local symptoms due to compression. All tumors imaged by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging with contrast showed a well-defined strongly enhancing mass. Two patients had evidence of bone erosion on imaging, but no histopathologic features of malignancy. Treatment consisted of surgical resection and in two cases postoperative radiation. Two patients had pathologic findings of malignancy, but are alive without recurrence at 26 and 51 months follow-up. Two patients had recurrence, one with paraspinal disease and grossly positive surgical margins, and another with endoscopic resection and poor margin control.
Conclusions:
SFTs of the head and neck are exceedingly rare and those with aggressive behavior even more so. Diagnosis is often difficult and not definitive until morphologic and immunohistochemical evaluation is performed. In most cases, complete surgical excision is the only necessary treatment. Although in patients with malignant components or positive surgical margins, adjuvant radiation may be beneficial. Regardless, all patients require close clinical follow-up for several years. Laryngoscope, 2012