Abstract
Background: Ectomesenchymal chondromyxoid tumour (ECT) is a rare, benign neoplasm of uncertain histogenesis, which appears to exclusively involve the oral cavity, particularly the tongue. Case Report: We report the case of a 27-year-old woman with a 0.7 cm tumoral lesion of 3 months' duration on the dorsum of the tongue. Histologically, it comprised well-circumscribed, unencapsulated lobular proliferations of fusiform and polygonal cells, with varying degrees of cellularity, with neoplastic cells often set in a myxoid, chondroid or hyalinized background. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity of the neoplastic cells for antibodies directed against S-100, glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin, plus negativity for CD-57(leu-7), epithelial membrane antigen, smooth muscle actin, desmin and cytokeratin AE1-AE3. The diagnosis was consistent with ECT. Total excision was performed and there has been no recurrence after 10 months' follow-up. Conclusion: This is the 37th case reported in the English language literature; ECT is characterized microscopically by a biphasic myxoid and chondroid pattern. Immunohistochemical expression of S100, glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin, very helpful in confirming diagnosis, suggest a probable mesenchymal and neural origin of this rare entity.
- Received July 20, 2010.
- Revision received September 22, 2010.
- Accepted September 27, 2010.
- Copyright© 2010 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved