Retropharyngeal myxoma: a case report

Myxoma arising from the parotid gland

Myxomas can be divided into two groups: those derived from the facial skeleton, and those derived from external skeletal soft tissue. Soft tissue myxomas of the head and neck are uncommon, with fewer than 50 cases reported. In any form and location, myxoma of parotid gland is rare. We report a case of myxoma arising from the left superficial lobe of the parotid gland with good longterm follow-up after superficial parotidectomy with tumor excision. A 49-year-old man was referred to our department of plastic and reconstructive surgery with a painless palpable mass that had persisted in the left mandible angle region for 2 years. Excision of the facial mass and superficial parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation were performed. The biopsy result was myxoma. Long-term follow-up for 22 months showed favorable results without evidence of recurrence but with temporary facial nerve weakness right after the surgery. Myxoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis when benign tumor of the parotid gland is being considered.

Transoral resection of a retropharyngeal myxoma: a case report

This study was conducted to describe a retropharyngeal myxoma and discuss clinical concerns regarding this pathology and a retropharyngeal site of occurrence. We present a case report and review of literature. A 71-year-old woman presented with mild right neck pressure for 3 weeks. Imaging studies and head neck examination confirmed a 5.3 × 3.1 × 1.0 cm retropharyngeal mass with no communication to the vertebral column but was intimately involved with the pharyngeal mucosa. A transoral fine needle aspiration biopsy suggested a possible spindle cell neoplasm. A presurgical swallowing consultation was obtained. A transoral excision of the tumor was possible with no intraoperative complications. Histopathology was a cellular myxoma. Postoperative dysphagia required swallowing therapy and nasogastric tube feeding for 2 weeks before oral intake was possible. The patient has no evidence of clinical or radiological recurrence more than 1 year after surgical intervention. We present the second case of a myxoma in the retropharynx reported in English literature. Transoral excision was safe, feasible, and cosmetically appealing option in our patient. Additional clinical data are required to valid its safety and utility as an approach to tumors in the retropharynx. Postoperative dysphagia can be significant and consequently we recommend preoperative swallowing evaluation and counseling.

Retropharyngeal angiomyxoma presenting with transoral intussusception

We report on a 66-year-old female who presented with a massive lesion protruding from her mouth and obstructing her airway, which was found to be an angiomyxoma arising from the retropharyngeal tissue.

Giant cell tumour of the retropharynx

AIMS

Giant cell tumours of soft tissues are usually of tenosynovial origin and are benign, slow growing neoplasms that have the capacity for local recurrence. They occur most frequently in the fingers and only rarely in the head and neck region. Their occurrence in the retropharynx has not been reported. The differential diagnoses of head and neck lesions containing giant cells are discussed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We describe a case of a retropharyngeal giant cell tumour of tenosynovial type in a 48-year-old man. The clinical, radiological and histological features are reviewed. Immunohistochemical studies point to a possible histiocytic origin based on reactivity for CD68.

CONCLUSIONS

Tenosynovial giant cell tumour should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumours arising in the retropharyngeal soft tissues.