BACKGROUND: Ectomesenchymal chondromyxoid tumor (ECMT) of the tongue is a relatively uncommonly recognized entity, first characterized in 1995 when Smith et al described the clinicopathologic features in 19 cases. The reported incidence of this tumor is still limited, and the recognition of its presenting features is not widespread. Although the tumor histology is typical, the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) features can be mistaken for those of other myxoid lesions. CASE: A 47-year-old woman presented with a nodule on the dorsal surface of the tongue that had been present for 3 months. Fine needle aspiration smears from the nodule showed abundant myxoid to fibrillary stromal fragments and clusters of oval and polygonal to spindled cells with uniform nuclei. A cytologic diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma was given. Subsequent histopathologic evaluation of the excised tumor revealed ECMT. CONCLUSION: Because of its abundant chondromyxoid stroma, ECMT shares morphologic similarities with other myxoid lesions, especially the salivary gland tumors, on histologic evaluation. The FNAC features of this tumor have not been reported before. The lack of awareness of ECMT as a tumor entity and nonexposure to the cytologic features may cause errors in the cytologic diagnosis.
BACKGROUND: Ectomesenchymal chondromyxoid tumor (ECMT) of the tongue is a relatively uncommonly recognized entity, first characterized in 1995 when Smith et al described the clinicopathologic features in 19 cases. The reported incidence of this tumor is still limited, and the recognition of its presenting features is not widespread. Although the tumor histology is typical, the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) features can be mistaken for those of other myxoid lesions. CASE: A 47-year-old woman presented with a nodule on the dorsal surface of the tongue that had been present for 3 months. Fine needle aspiration smears from the nodule showed abundant myxoid to fibrillary stromal fragments and clusters of oval and polygonal to spindled cells with uniform nuclei. A cytologic diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma was given. Subsequent histopathologic evaluation of the excised tumor revealed ECMT. CONCLUSION: Because of its abundant chondromyxoid stroma, ECMT shares morphologic similarities with other myxoid lesions, especially the salivary gland tumors, on histologic evaluation. The FNAC features of this tumor have not been reported before. The lack of awareness of ECMT as a tumor entity and nonexposure to the cytologic features may cause errors in the cytologic diagnosis.