Haemangiopericytoma—base of tongue

Abstract

Haemangiopericytoma is a rare vascular neoplasm arising from pericytes in the walls of the capillaries and venules. This tumor is reported to occur mostly in lower extremity and retro peritoneum with rare occurrence in the head and neck region. Generally they are slow growing, locally infiltrative and aggressive, with various rates of pleomorphism and malignant potential. Clinical presentations of these tumors are characteristically non-specific and diagnostic modalities are of little help. Surgery remains the gold standard of the treatment with additional benefits if adjuvant RT is taken. Here we report a case of haemangiopericytoma arising in the base of the tongue with a brief review of the literature. To our knowledge this is the first case in this location to be reported in the English literature.