Abstract
The patient was a 2 year-old female infant who suffered from right palatine tonsillar tumor. Histologcal examination revealed a leiomyoma, after tonsillectomy. Leiomyoma is a benign tumor which commonly occurs in smooth muscle of the skin, uterus or digestive organs. However, leiomyoma of the palatine tonsil is quite rare, because, in general, there is little smooth muscle in the palatine tonsil. Accordingly, leiomyoma of the palatine tonsil may originate from two possible sources, the first being vascular smooth muscle and the second hamartoma. Vascular smooth muscle is of prime suspect in this case because of its histological characteristics and its high frequency in oral cavity. Most literature on leiomyoma of the oral cavity states that its prognosis is favorable, but some investigators have reported its recurrence or even metastasis. Therefore, care must be taken after completion of therapy.
