A clinicopathological study on soft tissue tumors of the head and neck

The present study consists of 651 cases of soft tissue tumors originating in the head and neck area. Among these tumors 628 were benign (96%), while there were only 23 malignant cases (4%). In the benign group hemangiomas showed the highest incidence (47%) followed by tumors of adipose tissue (19%) and those of peripheral nerves (12%). Rare tumors consisted of nodular fascitis, hibernoma, lipoblastomatosis, glomus tumor, granular cell tumor, and chondroma. The majority of cases in the malignant group were either those of muscle origin or blood vessel origin. Excepting for two cases of rhabdomyosarcoma of the embryonal type and two cases of angiosarcoma, all showed recurrence and/or metastasis and terminated in death. Three cases of liposarcoma of either well-differentiated or myxoid type had a good prognosis with all three living for 3 or more years without any recurrence. Other malignant tumors consisted of malignant schwannoma, fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma, and chordoma. The age, sex, anatomical location, and differential diagnosis have also been described.