Plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor: a rare low-grade malignancy of children and young adults

Plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor (PFT) is a low-grade, superficial, soft tissue neoplasm with a limited but significant ability to metastasize. This type of tumor only rarely presents in the skin of the head and neck. Clinicians first encountering young patients with facial neoplasia, such as a PFT, might be unaware of its exact oncologic potential and instead be primarily concerned with the cosmetic outcome. We treated a 17-year-old boy with a PFT on his cheek who was initially treated only by shave biopsy. The tumor subsequently recurred and metastasized to the cervical lymph nodes 3 years after the initial biopsy. Therefore, appropriate initial therapy for PFT requires complete excision with negative resection margins.