Leiomyoma of the temporal artery

Abstract

A 25-year-old man had a right sided cyst-like swelling removed from his forehead. Histology revealed a well circumscribed spindle cell lesion with myxomatous changes. Immunohistochemical staining with muscle markers (smooth muscle actin, muscle specific actin) was positive. The histological features along with the immunohistochemical staining profile are of a leiomyoma with myxoid change arising in the temporal artery. Leiomyomata arising from vessels are extremely rare and to our knowledge this is the first case arising from the temporal artery.