Solitary fibrous tumour of the face: a rare case report.

Solitary fibrous tumour is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that most commonly involves the pleura. The diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumour is primarily histological. It consists of histological and positive immunohistochemical findings of CD-34 and vimentin. Recently, solitary fibrous tumour has been reported to occur in extrapleural soft tissues, such as the orbit, nasal cavity, abdominal cavity, parotid gland, scalp and neck. In an extensive review of the literature, we found no reports of solitary fibrous tumour arising in the facial soft tissue, other than in the parotid gland. This rare location of an uncommon lesion can lead to a confusing diagnosis. We report a case of solitary fibrous tumour originating in the temporal region of the face, and call for awareness of this tumour among plastic surgeons. Copyright 2002 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons.