Retropharyngeal superficial angiomyxoma

Objective:To describe the first published case of superficial angiomyxoma with an epithelial component occurring in the retropharynx.Method:Case report of a patient with swallowing difficulties caused by a rare case of superficial angiomyxoma in the retropharynx.Results:Superficial angiomyxoma is a distinct entity among the dermal myxomatous lesions. Superficial angiomyxoma is poorly circumscribed, and local recurrence is common unless the tumour is excised with clear margins. Distinctive histological features include a myxoid mass composed of spindle and stellate-shaped cells and occasional multinucleated cells. There is prominent vasculature and a mixed inflammatory infiltrate in the stroma, particularly by neutrophil polymorphs. Epithelial structures are seen in about one-third of cases. A case of retropharyngeal tumour with morphological features of superficial angiomyxoma is reported. The tumour cells, including multinucleated ones, were negative for soft tissue differentiation markers. The inflammatory cells included lymphocytes, histiocytes and neutrophil polymorphs.Conclusion:This case demonstrates that a cutaneous type of angiomyxoma with epithelial-lined structures can occur in deep soft tissue, such as the retropharynx.