Leiomyosarcoma of the tonsil.

OBJECTIVE

We report a case of leiomyosarcoma arising in the tonsil in a 73-year-old man.

METHOD: Case report and review of the English language literature (using Pubmed, Ovid and Proquest databases).

RESULTS

To our knowledge, this is the first case of tonsillar leiomyosarcoma to be reported in the English language literature. Our patient presented with haemoptysis, unilateral odynophagia and an ulcerated, exophytic lesion of the tonsil. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma, and the patient was treated with radical radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Leiomyosarcomas are extremely rare in the head and neck; the common sites of origin are the skin and sinonasal tract. The overall prognosis is poor.