OBJECTIVES: Solitary myofibromas are well described in the head and neck, but oral examples are less well known, and jaw lesions are rare. We studied the clinicopathologic features of a series of such lesions. DESIGN: Nine cases of oral myofibromas were retrieved from archives and studied. RESULTS: Two cases involved the mandible (intraosseous), 3 involved the gingiva, 2 involved the tongue, and 2, the hard palate. There were 4 men and 5 women, aged 9 months to 50 years (mean, 24 years; median, 27 years). Deep lesions showed typical histology, with paucicellular lobules and intervening hemangiopericytoma-like zones. In ulcerated submucosal lesions, these features blended superficially with cellular fascicles. The tumors expressed smooth muscle actin but lacked desmin and S100 protein. None of the tumors recurred or metastasized. CONCLUSION: Myofibromas appear in osseous, intramuscular, and submucosal aspects of the oral cavity. Ulceration imparts a fascicular appearance that makes superficial biopsy specimens difficult to interpret.
OBJECTIVES: Solitary myofibromas are well described in the head and neck, but oral examples are less well known, and jaw lesions are rare. We studied the clinicopathologic features of a series of such lesions. DESIGN: Nine cases of oral myofibromas were retrieved from archives and studied. RESULTS: Two cases involved the mandible (intraosseous), 3 involved the gingiva, 2 involved the tongue, and 2, the hard palate. There were 4 men and 5 women, aged 9 months to 50 years (mean, 24 years; median, 27 years). Deep lesions showed typical histology, with paucicellular lobules and intervening hemangiopericytoma-like zones. In ulcerated submucosal lesions, these features blended superficially with cellular fascicles. The tumors expressed smooth muscle actin but lacked desmin and S100 protein. None of the tumors recurred or metastasized. CONCLUSION:Myofibromas appear in osseous, intramuscular, and submucosal aspects of the oral cavity. Ulceration imparts a fascicular appearance that makes superficial biopsy specimens difficult to interpret.