Solitary fibrous tumour of the parotid gland

Abstract

Solitary fibrous tumours are rare tumours originally described in the pleura. More recently there have been reports of these tumours arising at other sites including the parotid region. They are characterized histologically by a variety of growth patterns that can be confused by the unwary with other benign or malignant tumours particularly sarcomas. We present a case occurring in the pre-auricular region which presented diagnostic difficulties.

Parotid Gland Solitary Fibrous Tumor: A Case Report and Clinicopathologic Review of 22 Cases from the Literature

“…For some time, it was incorrectly supposed that the tumor was of mesothelial origin giving rise to names such as localized fibrous mesothelioma, localized mesothelioma, and solitary fibrous mesothelioma [25]. However, it was later demonstrated that this neoplasm was of mesenchymal origin, probably from adult mesenchymal stem cells, developing in almost any anatomic site [12,26,27]. For these reasons, SFT is now the preferred term [25,28].…”

“…However, he had a 10 years history of a parotid gland mass, so it seems unlikely that trauma is a true etiologic factor. While the histogenesis is still unproven, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examination have shown that SFT is most likely derived from adult mesenchymal stem cells [12,26]. Throughout the body, as well as in the head and neck region, SFT affects males and females with the same frequency [1,8,16,29].…”

“…Throughout the body, as well as in the head and neck region, SFT affects males and females with the same frequency [1,8,16,29]. Similarly, patients with parotid gland SFT were equally divided between male (n = 11) and female (n = 11) ( Table 2) [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. SFT usually affects middle aged adults, but it has also been found in young patients [1,8,18,29].…”

“…Patients with SFT of the parotid gland present with a well defined, palpable, slowly growing, painless mass which has often been present for a significant duration (range, 3-120 months; mean, 24.7 months) [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]28]. There was no significant difference in average duration of symptoms between males (mean, 32.6 months) and females (mean, 15.7 months) (P = 0.30) nor between left (mean, 29 months) or right sided tumors (mean, 16.2 months) (P = 0.46).…”

“…A review of the English literature based on a MEDLINE search from 1960 to 2011 was performed and all cases of solitary fibrous tumor involving the parotid specifically were included in the review, the majority of which were single case reports [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Clinical series of ''head and neck soft tissue tumors'' were selected if critical (Tables 1, 2).…”