title: Nodular fasciitis of the oral cavity with partial spontaneous regression (nodular fasciitis).
abstract: Nodular fasciitis is a lesion found in the subcutaneous fascia that micoscopically presents as a benign proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, which may be mistaken for a sarcoma due to clinically rapid growth. Diagnosis is by histopathology and of the immunohistochemical profile. We describe a case of nodular fasciitis in the oral cavity that demonstrated partial spontaneous regression. The patient was a 32-year-old man with a buccal mucosal mass, which had grown rapidly for 45 days. On microscopic examination, the lesion displayed a well-delineated but not encapsulated proliferation of spindle cells, with a nodular growth pattern. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positivity of the spindle cells for the antibodies against smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin (HHF-35). Treatment of such lesions typically involves complete conservative excision, but the lesion may regress eventually in the absence of definitive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina Lara
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: de Carli
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sá Fernandes
authors.forename: Décio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: dos Santos Pinto
authors.forename: Andrea Lusvarghi
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Witzel
authors.forename: Marília Trierveiler
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000473:pathology*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous