Hemangiomas are the most common congenital lesions in man and occur predominantly in the head and neck region. Massive hemangioma especially near vital organs or structures pose a challenge to surgeons. With the availability of expertise in embolization of feeding vessel of the hemangioma and reconstructive techniques we were able to manage successfully a complicated case of massive facial hemangioma.
BACKGROUND: Protrusive structures formed by migrating and invading cells are termed lamellipodia, filopodia, invadopodia and podosomes. Lamellipodia and filopodia appear on the leading edges of migrating cells and function to command the direction of the migrating cells. Invadopodia and podosomes are special F-actin-rich matrix-degrading structures that arise on the ventral surface of the cell membrane. Invadopodia are found in a variety of carcinomatous cells including squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck region whereas podosomes are found in normal highly motile cells of mesenchymal and myelomonocytic lineage. Invadopodia-associated protein markers consisted of 129 proteins belonging to different functional classes including WASP, NWASP, cortactin, Src kinase, Arp 2/3 complex, MT1-MMP and F-actin. To date, our current understanding on the role(s) of these regulators of actin dynamics in tumors of the orofacial region indicates that upregulation of these proteins promotes invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma, is associated with poor/worst prognostic outcome in laryngeal cancers, contributes to the persistent growth and metastasis characteristics of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, is a significant predictor of increased cancer risk in oral mucosal premalignant lesions and enhances local invasiveness in jawbone ameloblastomas.
A 25-year-old Chinese woman presented with recurrent painless swelling over the left medial canthus region for 3 months and intranasal mass for an indeterminate duration. Initial incision biopsy of the mass was reported as nodular fasciitis but the lesion recurred 3 weeks later. Intraoperative findings during repeat biopsy showed a mass extending from the deep dermal tissue into the anterior orbit and polyp-like nasal mass. Histopathology findings were that of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). The mass recurred 4 months later without orbital or intranasal recurrence. Wide excision biopsy under frozen section guidance was attempted however; clear surgical margins could not be achieved despite extensive resection. She was subsequently referred for adjuvant radiotherapy. We report an exceptionally rare case of local recurrence of DFSP in an unusual anatomic location. This case was surgically challenging in achieving negative margins, and thus neoadjuvant therapy may improve overall outcome to prevent local relapse.