Giant cell tumour of the retropharynx

Giant cell tumours of soft tissues are usually of tenosynovial origin and are benign, slow growing neoplasms that have the capacity for local recurrence. They occur most frequently in the fingers and only rarely in the head and neck region. Their occurrence in the retropharynx has not been reported. The differential diagnoses of head and neck lesions containing giant cells are discussed.

We describe a case of a retropharyngeal giant cell tumour of tenosynovial type in a 48-year-old man. The clinical, radiological and histological features are reviewed. Immunohistochemical studies point to a possible histiocytic origin based on reactivity for CD68.

Tenosynovial giant cell tumour should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumours arising in the retropharyngeal soft tissues.