Chondromyxoid fibroma of the nasal septum: case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is a rare bone tumor, accounting for less than 0.5% of all bone tumors, with a predilection for lower extremity bone metaphyses. Involvement of the head and neck is extremely rare, with only 3 cases reported in the nasal septum in world literature. METHODS This is a case report of a CMF in the nasal septum of a 49-year-old woman with a 6-month history of congestion. MRI showed a bilobed mass originating from the nasal septum. Histologic and immunoperoxidase staining as well as electron microscopic studies were performed. A literature review was performed. RESULTS The patient underwent a midface-degloving approach for surgical resection. The final pathology was prototypic of CMF. The patient was disease-free 16 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS CMF is a rare, benign neoplasm occasionally occurring in the head and neck. Surgical resection is often curative. CMF must be differentiated from chondrosarcoma, given the substantial differences in treatment.