Extranodal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the soft palate: a case report

Follicular dentritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is an extremely rare malignant neoplasm arising from the accessory cells of the lymph nodes, the follicular dendritic cells. They commonly occur in the lymph nodes, but have also been reported at extranodal sites. Because of its rarity, FDCS is not easily to make a diagnosis by clinicians or pathologists. Herein, we report a soft palate tumor in a 59-year-old female, with a history of tonsillectomy. Pharynx MRI scan revealed a 4.7×3.0×3.5 cm mass at the right side of the parapharyngeal space. The pathology results returned as Follicular dentritic cell sarcoma. The patient underwent a tumorectomy and adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy. The patient was free of disease 1 year after the end of the treatment. The FDCS is an infrequent nonlymphoid malignant tumor accounting for less than 1% of all head and neck tumors. The immunohistochemical technique is essential for accurately identifying this class of tumour.