Glomangiopericytoma of the inferior nasal turbinate : a case report

Abstract Introduction Glomangiopericytoma is defined as a sinonasal tumor with perivascular myoid phenotype, which was first described in 1942 by Stout and Murray as a soft tissue tumor with characteristic proliferation including branching vessels and small vessel perivascular hyalinization. The tumor accounts for less than 0.5 % of all sinonasal neoplasms. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified this tumor as glomangiopericytoma in 2005. Case report A 47-year-women presented with two years history of permanent left nasal obstruction and frequent epistaxis. Rhinoscopy revealed a friable grayish pink polypoidal mass, fully occupying the left anterior naris. Computed tomography showed a lesion involving the left nasal cavity, with a soft tissue density (70 UH) measuring 50 × 16 mm, widely infiltrative. Endoscopic surgery was performed to remove the mass, considering the size, limited expansion and the accessible location of the tumor. The immunohistochemistry examination showed positive staining b-catenin tumor cells which confirmed the diagnostic of glomangiopericytoma. After a 2 years follow-up, the patient showed no signs of recurrence. Conclusion Glomangiopericytomas generally arises in the nasal cavity and may extend into the paranasal sinuses. It is categorized as a borderline low malignancy tumor by the WHO classification. Complete transnasal endoscopic excision is the optimal treatment.