Extramammary myofibroblastoma of the oral cavity

Myofibroblastoma is a rare, benign mesenchymal tumor first described as a neoplasm of the breast. Extramammary myofibroblastoma is a histopathologically and genetically identical lesion occurring outside the breast. Herein is presented a case of extramammary myofibroblastoma arising in the oral cavity. A 59-year-old woman presented with a 1.5 cm nodule on the buccal surface of the lower lip. Wide local excision was performed. Histopathologic examination revealed haphazard fascicles of monomorphic spindle cells with hyalinized collagen bundles without fat. The spindled cells were diffusely positive for CD34, and focally for progesterone receptor. Desmin, smooth muscle actin, estrogen receptor, androgen receptor, S100, and STAT6 were negative. Rb1 expression was lost in tumor cells. Thus, the diagnosis of extramammary myofibroblastoma was made. Differential diagnoses include spindle-cell lipoma and angiofibroma. All three tumors are members of the 13q14 deletion/RB1 loss family. Indolent but locally aggressive (solitary fibrous tumor, desmoid fibromatosis) and frankly malignant (low-grade peripheral nerve sheath tumor, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans) entities can be excluded by immunohistochemistry and careful microscopic examination. Extensive sampling extramammary myofibroblastoma is important to exclude the possibility of malignancy. Clinicians and pathologists alike should be aware of this entity and its potential to arise rarely in unusual locations.