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A Rare Low-grade Malignancy of Children and Young Adults

Leal G. Segura, MD; Jeff Harris, MD; Beverly Wang, MD; Al Rienzo, MD; Mark L. Urken, MD; Margaret Brandwein, MD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2002;128:966-970.

Plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor (PFT) is a low-grade, superficial, soft tissue neoplasm with a limited but significant ability to metastasize. This type of tumor only rarely presents in the skin of the head and neck. Clinicians first encountering young patients with facial neoplasia, such as a PFT, might be unaware of its exact oncologic potential and instead be primarily concerned with the cosmetic outcome. We treated a 17-year-old boy with a PFT on his cheek who was initially treated only by shave biopsy. The tumor subsequently recurred and metastasized to the cervical lymph nodes 3 years after the initial biopsy. Therefore, appropriate initial therapy for PFT requires complete excision with negative resection margins.

From the Departments of Otolaryngology (Drs Segura, Urken, and Brandwein) and Pathology (Drs Wang and Brandwein), Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, and the Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton (Dr Harris). Dr Rienzo is in private practice in Long Branch, NJ.