The soft tissue myxoma of the head and neck region--report of a case and literature review.

A case of soft tissue myxoma in scalp is reported in a patient with a history of congenital cleft lip and palate. Review of the literature shows head and neck soft tissue myxoma occurs almost in every decade of life with peak occurrence in the fourth decade. Men are affected more than women. The most common location in the head and neck region is the palate, followed by the parotid area. The prognosis of this soft tissue tumor is good. Conservative surgical excision with adequate margins is the treatment of choice. Several theories concerning the pathogenesis of this tumor are discussed, with the theory that a basic error in tissue metabolism during initial growth is the most compatible to the elements of this case. Differential diagnosis regarding this type of lesion is also discussed.