title: Airway obstruction due to inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the posterior pharyngeal wall.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report a unique case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the patient's case history, management and histopathological findings. A literature review of all cases localised to the larynx or pharynx is provided and discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 67-year-old man presented with airway obstruction due to a spherical mass in the hypopharynx originating from the posterior pharyngeal wall. The tumour was resected. Histopathological examination revealed an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour. We found only five previously reported cases with pharyngeal localisation. Further treatment of the patient is described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the pharynx is extremely rare. It is regarded as a neoplastic tumour of intermediate biological potential. In cases with extrapulmonary localisation, the incidence of local recurrence can be as high as 25 per cent. Radical surgery is the treatment of choice; no adjuvant therapy is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. h.theunisse@kno.umcn.nl
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Theunisse
authors.forename: F J A
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van den Hoogen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D009379:Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology