Update on Select Benign Mesenchymal and Meningothelial Sinonasal Tract Lesions

Head Neck Pathol. 2016 Mar;10(1):95-108. doi: 10.1007/s12105-016-0697-6. Epub 2016 Feb 1.

Abstract

Several benign and malignant mesenchymal and meningothelial lesions may preferentially affect or extend into the sinonasal tract. Glomangiopericytoma (GPC, formerly sinonasal-type hemangiopericytoma) is a specific tumor with a predilection to the sinonasal tract. Sinonasal tract polyps with stromal atypia (antrochoanal polyp) demonstrate unique histologic findings in the sinonasal tract. Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) arises from specialized tissue in this location. Meningioma may develop as direct extension from its intracranial counterpart or as an ectopic tumor. Selected benign mesenchymal tumors may arise in the sinonasal tract and pose a unique differential diagnostic consideration, such as solitary fibrous tumor and GPC or lobular capillary hemangioma and JNA. Although benign and malignant vascular, fibrous, fatty, skeletal muscle, and nerve sheath tumors may occur in this location, this paper focuses on a highly select group of rare benign sinonasal tract tumors with their clinicopathological and molecular findings, and differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Angiofibroma; Diagnosis; Differential; Granuloma; Hemangiopericytoma; Meningioma; Nerve sheath neoplasms; Polyps; Pyogenic; Sinonasal tract; Solitary fibrous tumor.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Meningioma / pathology*
  • Mesenchymoma / pathology*
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / pathology*