Glomangiopericytoma of the sphenoethmoid complex

A case report of sinonasal glomangiopericytoma: An important reminder to always collect specimen

OBJECTIVES

To present a case report of sinonasal glomangiopericytoma (GPC) in a female patient in her thirties and to highlight the importance of collecting pathology specimens even in routine sinus surgery cases.

METHODS

A case report detailing the diagnosis of GPC in a female in her thirties, including her initial presentation, treatment, and follow-up, along with a brief review of the literature.

RESULTS

Pathology of the collected specimen revealed sinonasal GPC along with chronic rhinosinusitis. Immunohistochemistry was positive for SMA, beta-catenin, and cyclin D1; and negative for STAT6, ERG, pankeratin, SOX10, and S100.

CONCLUSION

This diagnosis expands the knowledge around the demographic profile of GPC patients. GPC should be included in the differential diagnosis of sinonasal masses, even in younger patients. The case highlights the importance of collecting the entire pathology specimen in all cases, even of ones that seem routine and benign.

Single Institution Experience With Sinonasal Glomangiopericytoma: A Case Series

Introduction: Sinonasal glomangiopericytoma (GPC) is an uncommon neoplasm, accounting for less than 0.5% of all sinonasal tumors. It is characterized as having low malignant potential, with complete surgical excision representing optimal treatment. Presenting symptoms are typically due to mass effect and vascularity of this tumor, often including unilateral nasal obstruction or epistaxis. Accounts of this tumor in the literature remain sparse. Methods: Single institution retrospective review. Results: Six cases of sinonasal GPC were identified from a review of the electronic medical records spanning from 2009 through 2021. Age at diagnosis ranged from 48 to 67 years, with a gender distribution of 5 males and 1 female. Most subjects presented with unilateral sinonasal obstruction of variable duration. Each underwent endoscopic resection of the mass with negative margins, and no adjuvant therapy was pursued. Pathologic specimens demonstrated a vascular patterned tumor with spindled cells surrounding vessels and were positive for smooth muscle actin and negative for cytokeratin. Active post-surgical follow-up ranged from 11 months to 10 years. All patients were without endoscopic evidence of recurrence, and 2 had post-operative imaging which showed no evidence of disease. Conclusions: This review of 6 cases of sinonasal GPC represents the largest known series of this rare pathology in the literature to date. Based on our experience, and in agreement with the available literature, this disease is reliably managed with complete surgical excision. Adjuvant therapy can be avoided in otherwise uncomplicated cases. Although rare, GPC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all vascular sinonasal tumors.

A rare case of glomangiopericytoma in the nasal cavity: A case report in light of recent literature

Introduction and importance

Glomangiopericytoma (GPC) is a rare sinonasal tumor that behaves benignly with a long overall survival rate. It accounts for fewer than 0.5% of all sinonasal tumors.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 64-year-old man who presented with recurrent episodes of epistaxis. Rhinoscopy revealed a left posterior nasal septal mass with active oozing. Computed tomography (CT) showed a well-defined soft tissue lesion in the left nasal cavity measuring 1.95 × 1.51 cm. Complete endoscopic resection was successfully performed. Histopathological findings favored the diagnosis of GPC as it revealed tumor cells positive for smooth muscle actin and β-catenin with immunopositivity for CD34.

Clinical discussion

Presenting symptoms of GPC are predominated by epistaxis and nasal obstruction. Since CT and MRI merely lead to a presumptive diagnosis, histopathological findings are indispensable. Complete surgical excision of GPC remains the treatment of choice with excellent prognosis, especially when immunohistochemistry is positive for actin and CD34 immunostaining is negative.

Conclusion

GPC is a rare indolent tumor of pericytes that has a macroscopic appearance of a nasal polyp, which may result in uncertainty in the initial diagnosis. In most cases, GPC warrants only local excision. This case report adds to the literature and helps galvanize the developing clinical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.

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Glomangiopericytoma (GPC) is a rare sinonasal tumor that behaves benignly with a long overall survival rate.

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GPC has a macroscopic appearance of a nasal polyp, resulting in uncertainty in the initial diagnosis.

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The utilization of histopathological findings to diagnose GPC is indispensable.

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Complete surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment.

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Regular postoperative lifelong follow-up is strongly recommended.

Sinonasal Glomangiopericytoma: Review of Imaging Appearance and Clinical Management Update for a Rare Sinonasal Neoplasm

Introduction: Glomangiopericytoma (GPC) is a rare tumor in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses with low malignant potential. Initially deemed a hemangiopericytoma, in 2005 it was classified as a distinct entity by the World Health Organization (WHO). Case Presentation: A male patient in his early 60s presented with new-onset right arm and leg weakness/numbness, who was incidentally found to have a left ethmoid sinus mass with extension in the olfactory fossa. On CT and MRI, the mass enhanced with well-defined borders and eroded the bone, but without dural enhancement. The mass was surgically excised, and pathology confirmed the diagnosis of glomangiopericytoma by microscopic appearance and staining. Discussion: Glomangiopericytoma has less than 0.5% incidence of all neoplasms of the sinonasal cavity, making it rare. Most diagnosed patients are in their 6th or 7th decade of age, with a slight female predominance. Treatment is complete surgical excision, with excellent prognosis, although there is up to 17% local recurrence. Despite the non-specific appearance on CT and MRI, imaging can help provide differential diagnosis, tumor extent, size, and reassuring non-aggressive characteristics of the tumor prior to surgery. GPC tumors are relatively resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Conclusion: It is important to recognize glomangiopericytoma in the differential of masses of the nasal cavities or paranasal sinuses, as they rarely warrant aggressive treatment beyond local excision. Each reported case of glomangiopericytoma helps to build guidance for imaging and treatment since GPC is rare and not well-represented in the medical literature.