Soft tissue myoepithelial carcinoma of the neck with spinal invasion

oleh: Elias Moussaly, Bassel Nazha, Shiksha Kedia, Qing Chang, Frank Forte

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: SAGE Publishing 2016-10-01

Deskripsi

Soft tissue myoepithelial neoplasms are a rare yet diverse group of tumors, ranging from benign to malignant lesions. Their presentation in the head and neck region is uncommon and represents a challenging diagnosis. Early identification of myoepithelial carcinoma is crucial given its more aggressive course compared to its benign counterpart, although the histopathological distinction between the two can be difficult. <em>EWSR1</em> gene rearrangement is found in half the cases and has a speculative role in pathogenesis. Complete excision remains the treatment of choice. The roles of chemotherapy and radiation are unclear. We report the hospital course of a 33-year-old female who presented to our institution with a posterior neck mass with spinal invasion, diagnosed as myoepithelial cancer. A literature review of these rare tumors is discussed here.