Detailed Information on Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma

A malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a type of cancer known as soft tissue sarcoma. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a malignant neoplasm of vague origin that arises both in soft tissue and bone. Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma occurs as a painless mass most commonly in the skin, arms, legs, kidneys, or the pancreas. More rarely MFH may arise in the bones, heart, breasts, or inside the skull. Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma tends to be slow growing and slow to metastasize. The condition most generally spreads (metastisizes) to the lungs, but can also invade the lymph nodes and bone.

MFH most commonly occurring between ages 50-70. MFH accounts for 20-24% of soft-tissue sarcomas, making it the most common soft-tissue sarcoma occurring in late adult life. In rare cases MFH does occur in children, but it is usually in a less aggressive form. However, malignant tumors have occurred in children as young as 13. It occurs more often in caucasians than those of African or Asian descent. The cause of malignant fibrous has indicated that genetic alterations may play a role. People who have been exposed to high doses of radiation are also more prone to develop MFHs than the remainder of the population.

The disease has also been linked to radiation treatment for breast cancer, retinoblastoma and Hodgkin's disease. A malignant fibrous histiocytoma originating in the bone has been linked to pre-existing abnormalities such as Paget's disease or fibrous dysphasia of the bone. Treatment consists of surgical removal. Surgery for malignant fibrous histiocytomas involves the biopsy, surgical removal of the tumor, bone/skin grafts, and/or reconstruction. The type of surgery will depend on the size and location of the tumor, and whether the cancer has spread. Limb-salvage surgery is sometime necessary to remove all or part of a limb.

In most cases, however, limb-sparing surgery is employed to shun amputation. Radiation uses high energy rays from a specialized machine to damage or kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. This is sometimes used in conjunction with surgery for malignant fibrous histiocytoma, either before or after resection of the tumor. On rare occasions radiation alone is used for treatment of the primary tumor. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is called systemic treatment because the drug enters the blood stream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body.

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