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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Jun;14(2):516-524.
doi: 10.1007/s12105-019-01058-6. Epub 2019 Jul 23.

Solitary Fibrous Tumors in the Head and Neck: Comprehensive Review and Analysis

Luke Stanisce  1   2   3 , Nadir Ahmad  4   5   6 , Kristin Levin  7 , Nathan Deckard  4   5 , Miriam Enriquez  5   8 , Joshua Brody  5   9 , Yekaterina Koshkareva  4   5   6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Solitary Fibrous Tumors in the Head and Neck: Comprehensive Review and Analysis

Luke Stanisce et al. Head Neck Pathol. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) arising in the head and neck region are uncommon yet well-recognized entities. Their biologic behavior and management still need to be elucidated. Systematically reviewing all published cases of SFT involving the head and neck region since 1991, a pooled meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate various demographic and tumor characteristics. 587 SFT in the head and neck have been reported; 343 met pooled analysis inclusion criteria. 61% of cases presented as a new mass; 89% were painless. Median onset of symptoms prior to evaluation was 8 months. Pre-operative local invasion and malignant histological features (hemorrhage, necrosis, mitoses > 4/10 hpf) were not statistically associated with decreased recurrence-free survival. Positive surgical margins was the only factor associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (p < 0.001). The evidence presented herein reveals novel associations between clinical presentation and tumor characteristics that provide otolaryngologists with new insight into SFT tumor behavior, thus prompting further investigations.

Keywords: Head; Neck; SFT; Soft tissue tumor; Solitary fibrous tumor.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Axial computed tomography of the neck without contrast demonstrating a solid, lobulated soft tissue mass in the right neck immediately inferior to the anterior belly of the right digastric muscle, as indicated by the red arrow
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Axial positron emission tomography–computed tomography of the neck demonstrating minimal central FDG-avidity within the soft tissue lesion, as indicated by the red arrow
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
× 100 magnification photomicrograph stained with hematoxylin and eosin demonstrating histomorphological features of the tumor, composed of spindled cells without a discernible architecture, set within a collagenous stroma. Characteristic rounded vessels with hyalinized walls are prominent
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
× 200 magnification photomicrograph stained with hematoxylin and eosin demonstrating tumor cells with vesicular chromatin and inconspicuous nucleoli without histological evidence of malignancy
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
PRISMA flow diagram depicting the phases of the conducted systematic review
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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