A case is described of ameloblastoma of the mandible presenting with multiple recurrences and subsequent extension to the maxilla with resultant transformation into an aggressive (malignant?) epithelial odontogenic ghost cell tumour. The latter is a rare, biologically virulent entity that affects mainly males, exhibits a preference for the maxilla and is histologically characterized by atypical malignant odontogenic epithelium associated with areas of ghost cell formation and varying amounts of dentinoid

Metastatic tumour to the tongue is extremely rare. We report a case of renal adenocarcinoma metastasis involving the right side of the base of the tongue with extension to the right vallecula in a 59-year-old man in which a piece of the metastatic lesion in the tongue was expectorated and was the first evidence of the primary tumour in the right kidney. Previously reported cases are reviewed.

Maxillary sinus shrinkage can occur secondary to acquired benign osteomeatal disease. This may be associated with an external deformity and sinus wall sclerosis.

We describe a leiomyosarcoma of the tongue in a 60-year-old man. The diagnosis was supported by immunohistochemical positivity for desmin and alpha-1 smooth muscle actin.

Ewing's sarcoma arising in the head and neck region is very rare. A case arising from C2 in a young child is presented. The unusual presentation, differential diagnosis and pathological features are discussed.

True malignant mixed tumours (carcinosarcomas) of salivary gland origin are rare and not widely recognized lesions. These tumours account for approximately 0.2 per cent of all malignancies of the major salivary glands (Stephen et al., 1986). They usually occur in pre-existing pleomorphic ademonas of major salivary glands and have an aggressive and often rapidly fatal progression.

We report a case of carcinosarcoma in a minor salivary gland of the upper lip. Its management and the use of immunocy-tochemical stains to demonstrate the separate epithelial and connective issue components are discussed.

We present a very unusual case of an acoustic neuroma involving the left cochlea and internal auditory canal of a 24-year-old man. Clinical suspicion was aroused when the patient presented with a left total sensorineural hearing loss and continuing vertigo. The diagnosis was made pre-operatively with MRI after initial CT scanning was normal. The tumour was removed via a transotic approach. This case report demonstrates the MRI features of an intracochlear schwannoma and emphasizes the importance of MRI in patients with significant auditory and clinical abnormalities with normal CT scans of the relevant region.

A 63-year-old woman presented with a history of increasing dysphagia of about two weeks duration. Laryngoscopy revealed a nonulcerated supraglottic epitheliomatous lesion that morphologically appeared well-differentiated and distinctly oncocytoid. Although the tumour lacked any criteria for malignancy such as cellular atypia, pleomorphism or necroses, it recurred twice after primary surgery and later gave rise to multiple painful skin metastases. The diagnosis of an oncocytoid differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx (laryngeal carcinoid) was made. Misinterpretation of laryngeal carcinoids is common, but can be avoided if one is familiar with this rare variant of laryngeal neoplasms