Successfull multidisciplinary management of giant nasal fibromyxoma: Case report and literature review

Introduction: Fibromyxomas are very rare benign tumors of the head and neck region. They are characterized by the replacement of normal bone by a fibrous cellular stroma. These tumors are slow-growing benign lesions, which may cause extensive local destruction with a tendency to recurrence after surgical excision.

Case presentation: We report the case of a 52-years-old Moroccan female, diagnosed with giant nasal fibromyxoma. This case was successfully managed by a multidisciplinary team, with complete resection of the tumor after arterial embolization, allowing a good functional and locoregional control. To our knowledge, this kind of multidisciplinary approach has had never been described in the literature, with successful results.

Conclusion: Nasal fibromyxoma, represents a rare situation. Advanced forms require multidisciplinary management, involving embolization to reduce bleeding and unsightly complications from extensive surgery.

Introduction

Fibromyxomas are very rare tumors affecting the head and neck region [1]. They are benign tumors characterized by local aggressivity, with a poor possibility to metastatic evolution [1,2]. These tumors usually occur in the second or third decades, rarely in children or adults after 50 years old [3]. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the noninvasive diagnosis and characterization of these tumors, providing information about the location of these tumors, their extension and invasion of adjacent structures [4]. Multidisciplinary management is the guarantee of optimal care, which can allow a curability status [5]. Advanced forms require multidisciplinary management, involving embolization to reduce bleeding and unsightly complications from extensive surgery. We report here a case of giant nasal fibromyxoma successfully managed thanks to the intervention of a multidisciplinary team that performed an arterial embolization followed by a complete non-mutilating resection, with good functional and locoregional control.

Case presentation

52-years-old Moroccan female, without any specific medical history (trauma, fever, dental trouble or nasal obstruction), presented at the Military Hospital AVICENNE Marrakesh-Morocco, with progressive swelling and painless right paranasal region appeared since 2 years (Figure 1). The evolution was marked by the appearance of a pain interesting the right hemiface to the palpation and the attempts of nasal aspiration. This pain became spontaneous afterwards. The general examination was within the normal limits. The patient also reports the appearance of phonatory problems and the inability to breathe nasally. The Visual analog pain scale gave a score of 5/10, which was calmed by analgesics. Local examination revealed a regular swelling of the nasal mucosa on the right, painful not allowing access to the naso-fibroscope. This swelling extended to the ipsilateral sub-palpebral region. No nasal invasion was observed and her dentition was normal. A biopsy was performed with anatomopathological study. The result after The immunohistochemical complement was in favor of fibromyxoma. Facial CT scan showed a mass measuring 4X3 cm with the invasion of the two nasal fossae and the right maxillary sinus. This mass describes an intimate contact with the sphenoid bone with the beginning of lysis of the latter (Figure 2). We also note a rapid enhancement by the contrast product, testifying to the hypervascular nature of this mass. The complement by the MRI allowed eliminating a probable vascular or nervous extension especially towards the optical chiasma (Figure 3). An angiogram performed 24 hours before the exeresis surgery, identified the terminal branch of the internal maxillary artery responsible for the vascularization of this mass (Figure 4). An embolization of this branch was performed to prepare the excision surgery. A monobloc resection was performed 24 hours after embolization minimizing the risk of bleeding and improving dissection possibilities (Figure 5). The anatomopathological study of the mass confirmed the diagnosis of Fibromyxoma, and determined the non-invasiveness of the resection limits. The patient was discharged from the hospital 3 days after the intervention with disappearance of the pains and phonatory disorders. After a follow-up of 12 months, there were no signs of locoregional recurrence or postoperative complications.

Figure 1: Right paranasal mass.

Figure 2: Facial CT scan showing a mass measuring 4X3 cm with invasion of the two nasal fossae and the right maxillary sinus.

Figure 3: Facial MRI showing a giant mass filling the nasal fossae and the right maxillary sinus.

Figure 4: Angiogram identifying the terminal branch of the internal maxillary artery responsible for the vascularization of the mass.

Figure 5: Macroscopic appearance of the mass after resection.

Discussions

Fibromyxoma is a rare benign or low-grade soft-tissue tumor, related to fibro-osseous lesions and involves the paranasal sinuses [1,2]. These tumors are characterized by benign evolution, but they can in some situations have a locoregional destructive behavior [3]. Clinically they can be incidentally discovered when imaging is performed for another indication, or may become symptomatic in relation to a mass effect of the tumour on adjacent structures [5,6]. In our case the diagnosis was made after symptomatic mass, growing for almost 3 years. It’s common to find focal areas of bone destruction [7]. MRI is the first-line examination for diagnosis and pre-surgical assessment [7,8]. It shows a well-defined oval lesion, showing a high signal intensity under T2WI, a low signal intensity under T1WI and a significant enhancement after gadolinium administration [8]. The lesion often contains hypo-intense fibrous septa [9]. In our case, the radiological appearance on MRI was not typically in favor of fibromyxoma. Hypervascularity and local invasive behavior required preoperative biopsy guided by nasal endoscopy. Histopathologically, Fibromyxoma has odontogenic and mesenchymal origin, probably arising from connective tissue of dental papilla, hence called odontogenic myxoma [10]. Fibromyxomas are in the form of unencapsulated and well-defined masses [11]. Their consistency varies from firm to gelatinous depending on the amount of collagen / myxoid stroma they contain. These are hypocellular lesions composed of slender spindle and stellate cells with a discrete cytoplasm [10,11]. The immunohistochemical complement is not of great help, but allows in some cases to refine the diagnosis. The tumor cells are positive for vimentin and laminin [12].
In this case the anatomopathological diagnosis was simple to the morphological study, with an immunohistochemical complement which confirmed the diagnosis. Complete surgical resection is mandatory to treat fibromyxoma. This resection may also allow to avoid any locoregional reccurence [13]. Complete surgical resection of giant fibromyxoma is difficult [13,14]. The dural or orbital invasion and the hypervascular character can make this resection laborious. Thus, complete removal of this type of injury has always been a challenge. As reported by Wang et al., To avoid recurrence, it would seem necessary to remove the outer lamella from the tumor and drill a pathological bone with a diamond bur until it reaches a smooth, healthy bone with a less fragile consistency [14]. Endoscopic resection in giant fibromyxomas could result in fragmented resection, increasing the risk of recurrence. Traditionally, extranasal or microscopic techniques have been described to achieve complete resection [15]. However, recent studies have suggested an endoscopic resection technique, with improved endoscopes and instruments, increased surgical experience, advanced techniques (eg, “four-handed technique”), and routine use of navigation systems [16]. In our context it seems that conventional surgery remains the most appropriate technique. In the last 20 years, preoperative embolization of blood vessels in large tumors of the head and neck field has yielded encouraging results. It’s seems to be the standard of care in some giant paragangliomas or Juvenil nasal tumors. The most important risk when embolising the orbital region is the occlusion of the central retinal artery, which is a terminal vessel and results in blindness of the patient [17]. The purpose of this embolization is to allow a slight reduction in tumor volume and better control of bleeding during surgery [18]. These two elements can guarantee better chances for a complete resection of giant fibromyxomas. To the best of our knowledge there is no publication describing this therapeutic protocol (arterial embolization followed by surgery) in advanced nasal fibromyxomas. Our case was managed by a multidisciplinary team having performed arterial embolization 24 hours before surgery, with complete resection of the tumor.

Conclusions

Nasal fibromyxoma is a rare benign tumor. Clinical, radiological and histological data should all be taken into consideration to better establish a differential diagnosis with other fibro-osseous, benign or malignant tumors, and a preoperative biopsy should always be performed as far as possible. For giant tumors, the multidisciplinary approach including preoperative arterial embolization should be considered as part of standard of care, to ensure complete resection with less risk of complications

Declarations

“Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.”

Author’s contributions

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

We sincerely thanks Mrs Souad TADLAOUI for her assistance.

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