Distinctive Head and Neck Bone and Soft Tissue Neoplasms

Surg Pathol Clin. 2017 Mar;10(1):223-279. doi: 10.1016/j.path.2016.11.003.

Abstract

Benign and malignant primary bone and soft tissue lesions of the head and neck are rare. The uncommon nature of these tumors, combined with the complex anatomy of the head and neck, pose diagnostic challenges to pathologists. This article describes the pertinent clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of selected bone and soft tissue tumors involving the head and neck region, including angiofibroma, glomangiopericytoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma, chordoma, chondrosarcoma, and osteosarcoma. Emphasis is placed on key diagnostic pitfalls, differential diagnosis, and the importance of correlating clinical and radiographic information, particularly for tumors involving bone.

Keywords: Angiofibroma; Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma; Chondrosarcoma; Chordoma; Glomangiopericytoma; Osteosarcoma; Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiofibroma / diagnosis
  • Angiofibroma / pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chordoma / diagnosis
  • Chordoma / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Radiography
  • Sarcoma / diagnosis
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology