Oral fibro-histiocytic lesions: immuno-histological investigation and review of an unusual presentation in the tongue

A right sided mid-tongue growth in a 14-year-old boy diagnosed initially as Pyogenic Granuloma was found subsequently to be a Benign Fibrous Histiocytoma. This lesion had three seeming recurrences with divergent histologic and clinical appearances within a short period of time. Although there was eventual consensus on the morphogenesis and benign histologic nature of the lesion this caused diagnostic and management problems and a potential prognostic dilemma. This report on a unique and aggressive head and neck lesion, possibly the third documented case ill the tongue, reviews the bewildering spectrum of clinical and immuno- histologic manifestations of fibrous histiocytic lesions. Wide excision with close follow up is recommended