Talk:An introduction to head and neck pathology

Craniopharyngioma

See Talk:Pituitary gland.

Thyroglossal duct cyst

Microscopic description

The sections show a large cystic structure filled with bland hyaline material that is lined by a squamoid epithelium. Focally, a smaller, microscopic, cyst has respiratory epithelium with cilia. Surrounding the cysts are normal fibro-adipose tissue, fragments of skeletal muscle, normal thyroid tissue and sebaceous glands. There is focal granulomatous inflammation associated with the wall of the large cyst. There is normal bone with unremarkable bone marrow, that has all three main lineages and scant adipose tissue. One small benign lymph node is present.

Final diagnosis

Bone and soft tissue, neck, excision - Thyroglossal duct cyst.

Branchial cleft remnant

Microscopic

The sections show normal skin and benign cartilage, skeletal muscle, white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue. No cystic space is identified. There is no evidence of inflammation and no evidence of malignancy.

Final diagnosis

Soft tissue, left neck, excision - consistent with branchial cleft remnant

Inflammtory polyp (cystic fibrosis)

Microscopic description

A and B. The sections show polypoid masses with respiratory-type epithelium and focal squamous epithelium, on a loose edematous stroma. There are abundant inflammatory cells, including abundant plasma cells, abundant neutrophils (both stromal and intraepithelial), numerous lymphocytes and rare eosinophils. Focally, glands are cystically dilated and filled with eosinophilic mucus. An inflammatory exudate with abundant neutrophils is seen focally.

Final diagnosis

A. Nasal cavity, right, polypectomy - Inflammatory polyp (cystic fibrosis)
B. Nasal cavity, left, polypectomy - Inflammatory polyp (cystic fibrosis)

Benign fibrous polyp

Microscopic description

The sections show a moderately vascular stromal lesion consisting of collagen and fibrin. It is covered by benign respiratory-type epithelium with cilia, and has benign serous and mucinous glands. The epithelium is partially eroded and shows evidence of regeneration; the subepithelial tissue shows focal hypervascularity and minimal lymphocytic infiltration. Normal cartilage is present. There are no appreciable number of neutrophils and one very small cluster of eosinophils.

Final diagnosis

A. Nasal mass, left anterior, excision - Benign fibrous polyp.

Sinonasal mass

TISSUE, LEFT ANTRUM, EXCISION:
- SINONASAL MUCOSA WITH INFLAMMATION (PREDOMINANTLY PLASMA CELLS AND NEUTROPHILS),
  EDEMA, AND SIDEROPHAGES.
- CELLULAR DEBRIS AND ABUNDANT FIBRIN.
- NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.