Infantile myofibromatosis: a nontraumatic cause of neonatal brachial plexus palsy

Ruptured Infantile Myofibroma of the Head Presenting in a Neonate: Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Infantile myofibroma/myofibromatosis (IM/M) is a myofibroblastic proliferative disorder often seen in infants and children. IM/M can result in congenital tumors of the head and neck and may occasionally present to the neurosurgeon.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We report a case of a solitary ruptured myofibroma of the head in a newborn patient. The lesion was initially suggestive of encephalocele. We describe the presentation and management of this patient, including relevant imaging, histopathologic evaluation, and surgical technique. We subsequently review the literature of IM/M of the head and neck, highlighting the 3 forms of the condition, each requiring a distinct management strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this tumor rarely presents to the neurosurgeon, it may do so in the process of ruling out other more dangerous conditions. It is therefore important to consider this diagnosis in masses that occur in the head and neck of newborns.

Risk-adapted therapy for infantile myofibromatosis in children

BACKGROUND

Infantile myofibromatosis is characterized by proliferation of benign fibrous tumors arising in skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, or bone. Solitary and multicentric forms are described. Few reports are available in the pediatric population.

PROCEDURE

To improve the knowledge of this rare tumor in infants, the authors present a series of all cases of infantile myofibromatosis treated in their institution over a 9-year period in order to propose treatment guidelines based on their experience and a review of the literature.

RESULTS

The authors report a series of 9 cases, 8 solitary forms and 1 multicentric form with visceral involvement treated from 2000 to 2009. Median age was 10 months (range: 2 days-14 years). Six patients with solitary forms underwent primary surgical resection leading to remission. Only biopsy was performed in 1 case, followed by tumor regression with no recurrence. The last patient with a solitary form was treated by chemotherapy and then surgery allowing remission. The patient with a multicentric form presented complete regression of tumors after 1 year of vinblastine and methotrexate combination chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Infantile myofibromatosis is a rare soft tissue tumor mainly concerning infants. Surgery is the treatment of choice for solitary forms when excision is possible. Close follow-up may be proposed in the case of inoperable sites. In multicentric life-threatening forms, chemotherapy promotes tumor regression and the vinblastine and methotrexate combination is effective with few long-term adverse effects.

Aggressively recurrent infantile myofibroma of the axilla and shoulder girdle

Infantile myofibroma is the most common fibrous tumor of infancy, typically affecting neonates and children under 2 years of age. Though the multicentric variant portends a grave prognosis, solitary lesions have an excellent prognosis and frequently undergo spontaneous regression. Surgical excision of solitary lesions is usually curative. In this report, we describe a pediatric patient with an unusually aggressive solitary myofibroma of the axilla who ultimately required a forequarter amputation as a lifesaving measure following multiple tumor recurrences and progressive tumor growth. The clinical course, radiographic findings, histology, and management rationale are presented.

A case report of solitary, intraosseous, adult-onset myofibroma of the mandible

Myofibroma is a benign proliferation of myofibroblasts in the connective tissue. Solitary intraosseous myofibromas are a rare finding especially in an adult. Myofibroma is a benign lesion and its treatment is similar to any other benign lesion.This article reports a rare case of a 32 year old lady presenting with a complaint of a painful swelling in the lower third molar region, on examination the tender swelling had expansion of the buccal cortex. The diagnostic work up included OPG radiograph, CT Scan, and a deep incisional biopsy of the mass under L.A. The final diagnosis of myofibroma was made only after the histopathological diagnosis and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). The patient was treated with wide local excision of the lesion in the mandible under GA.