Glomangiopericytoma of the Infraorbital Region.

BACKGROUND

Glomangiopericytomas are rare spindle cell neoplasms that typically arise within the sinonasal tract and exhibit borderline to low malignant potential. While unusual, occurrences of this tumor in other regions of the head and neck have been reported, such as the deep neck spaces, larynx, tongue, and middle ear.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old male presented with a one-year history of left infraorbital swelling, enlarging over two months and occasionally pulsating with discomfort. Cross-sectional imaging revealed a 1.5 cm x 0.8 cm x 1.7 cm homogeneously-enhancing mass in the left medial infraorbital region eroding the adjacent maxillary sinus wall, suggestive of an infraorbital nerve schwannoma or hemangioma. The tumor was excised via a lateral rhinotomy approach with anterior maxillectomy. The final pathological diagnosis was a glomangiopericytoma.

CONCLUSION

Although typically localized to the sinonasal tract, glomangiopericytomas may arise in unusual head and neck locations such as the infraorbital region. It is important to distinguish these tumors from related mesenchymal tumors such as solitary fibrous tumors and myopericytomas due to differences in their biology and malignant potential.