Yusuf 269 Asian J Oral Maxillofac Surg Vol 16, No 4, 2004 CASE REPORTS Asian J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2004;16:269-271. Correspondence: Harmas Yazid Yusuf, Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Jl Pasteur No 38, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Tel: (62 22) 204 1196; Fax: (62 22) 203 6169; E-mail: harmas@bdg.centrin.net.id Haemangiopericytoma in the Tongue of a Young Child Harmas Yazid Yusuf Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia Abstract Haemangiopericytoma is an uncommon tumour that is particularly rare in children. The tumour has a wide anatomical distribution, including the oral cavity. This report is of a 2-year-old child with haemangiopericytoma in the tongue. Key words: Child, preschool, Hemangiopericytoma, Tongue Introduction Haemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a vascular neoplasm characterised by the proliferation of capillaries surrounded by masses of round or spindle-shaped cells. HPC resembles glomus tumour but lacks its organoid pattern, encapsulation, and clinical mani- festation of pain. 1,2 The term haemangiopericytoma was suggested by Stout and Murray in 1942 because the lesion is characterised by glomus tumour-like cells that have been identified as pericytes. 3 HPC is a rare tumour in adults and is uncommon in children. 2 It is generally accepted that both benign and malignant variants of this tumour exist but that there are difficulties in formulating dependable criteria to distinguish the 2 types. 1,2 Distinction between low- grade and high-grade lesions is difficult with histo- logical parameters. 2 However, combining factors such as mitotic activity, cellularity, haemorrhage, and necrosis may be helpful for assigning a grade to the tumour. 2 This report is of a 2-year-old boy with HPC in the tongue. Case Report A 2-year-old boy was referred to the Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia, for the management of a slowly growing painless mass located in the left lateral tongue. The mass had exhibited slow growth during the previous 8 months, but had been present for 1 year. The medical history was not contributory and there was no history of trauma. Examination revealed a red firm non- tender apparently circumscribed rubbery mass measuring 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.5 cm with a slight tendency to bleed (Figure 1). A diagnosis of benign vascular tumour was made and surgical excision under general anaesthesia was performed. Histology showed that the tongue epithelium was normal (Figure 2) and that the tumour consisted of pericyte elements that varied in size and shape, appearing large or small, round to spindle-shaped with polymorphic nuclei. The blood vessels showed numerous irregular vascular spaces with a branching Figure 1. Red mass with a tendency to bleed on the left side of the tongue.