title: Malignant fibrous histiocytomas in children.
abstract: The natural history of malignant fibrous histiocytomas in children has not been well delineated. During a 6-year period, we have treated six patients less than 18 years of age. The sites of origin included the retroperitoneum in 2 patients, neck in 2 patients, and extremities in 2 patients. Surgical treatment consisted of wide local excision in 5 patients and amputation in 12; radiation and/or chemotherapy were administered to 2 patients following resection of all tumor. All children remain free of local recurrence or distant metastases with a median follow-up in excess of 4 years. These data suggest that malignant fibrous histiocytomas in children may have a better prognosis than in adults.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D012782:Shoulder; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*