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Solitary Fibrous Tumors in the Head and Neck: Comprehensive Review and Analysis

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Abstract

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) arising in the head and neck region are uncommon yet well-recognized entities. Their biologic behavior and management still need to be elucidated. Systematically reviewing all published cases of SFT involving the head and neck region since 1991, a pooled meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate various demographic and tumor characteristics. 587 SFT in the head and neck have been reported; 343 met pooled analysis inclusion criteria. 61% of cases presented as a new mass; 89% were painless. Median onset of symptoms prior to evaluation was 8 months. Pre-operative local invasion and malignant histological features (hemorrhage, necrosis, mitoses > 4/10 hpf) were not statistically associated with decreased recurrence-free survival. Positive surgical margins was the only factor associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (p < 0.001). The evidence presented herein reveals novel associations between clinical presentation and tumor characteristics that provide otolaryngologists with new insight into SFT tumor behavior, thus prompting further investigations.

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The authors have no funding, financial relationships to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ, USA

    Luke Stanisce, Nadir Ahmad, Nathan Deckard & Yekaterina Koshkareva

  2. Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA

    Luke Stanisce, Nadir Ahmad, Nathan Deckard, Miriam Enriquez, Joshua Brody & Yekaterina Koshkareva

  3. MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Head and Neck Cancer Center, Camden, NJ, USA

    Nadir Ahmad & Yekaterina Koshkareva

  4. Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and Communicative Disorders, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Kristin Levin

  5. Department of Pathology, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ, USA

    Miriam Enriquez

  6. Department of Radiology, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ, USA

    Joshua Brody

  7. Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Cooper University Health Care, Three Cooper Plaza, Suite 411, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA

    Luke Stanisce

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  1. Luke Stanisce
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  2. Nadir Ahmad
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  3. Kristin Levin
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  7. Yekaterina Koshkareva
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Correspondence to Luke Stanisce.

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Stanisce, L., Ahmad, N., Levin, K. et al. Solitary Fibrous Tumors in the Head and Neck: Comprehensive Review and Analysis. Head and Neck Pathol 14, 516–524 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-019-01058-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-019-01058-6

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