Hemangiopericytoma of the Parapharyngeal Space

Abstract

A 47-year-old woman complaining of a sore throat was referred to our hospital. Previously, the patient had been operated on twice for parapharyngeal tumors in other locations. Magnetic resonance imaging of the area revealed a well-defined round mass in the parapharyngeal lesion that was surgically removed. Histopathological analysis of the surgical specimen revealed a hemangiopericytoma. Subsequently, the tumor recurred twice over the next six years, and multiple distant metastasis, including lung, liver and bone, proved to be fatal. Autopsy specimens from each metastasis lesion showed homogeneous cells of markedly different grades, suggesting that the process of tumor evolution and progression can generate biological diversity, and that the parent tumor is heterogeneous. In conclusion, this clinical course is useful for suggesting biological diversity in the primary tumor. © 2001, The Society of Practical Otolaryngology. All rights reserved.