JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Vol. 55 No. 7       2009

ISSN: 0021-5163      UBIC: 151-J

ABSTRACT

Nodular fasciitis is a pseudosarcomatous reactive lesion of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts. It usually develops in the subcutaneous fascia of the extremities and trunk, but rarely arises in the oral mucosal soft tissue. We report a case of nodular fasciitis of the tongue in a 34-year-old man. Intraoral examination revealed a 3-mm, elastic, soft nodular tumor of the dorsum of the tongue. Histopathologic examination showed a diffuse, infiltrative proliferation of plump spindle cells in the submucosa. These cells were immunopositive for vimentin, and negative for α -smooth muscle actin, HHF-35, S-100 protein, and CD34. The Ki-67 labeling index was high, with an average of 19.8 %. Ultrastructurally, spindle cells showed a fibroblastic phenotype with occasional myofibroblastic differentiation. Recurrence was lot evident 14 months after simple excision. Keywords: nodular fasciitis, tongue, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy.

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