Malignant fibrous histiocytoma: an institutional review.
BACKGROUND
A thorough understanding of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), the most common subtype of soft tissue sarcoma, will lead to improved histologic-specific protocols.


METHODS
126 patients with histologically confirmed MFH were analyzed. The median follow-up was 42 months (range 1-233 months).


RESULTS
Overall survival was 58% at 5 years and 38% at 10 years. Grade significantly influenced prognosis, with 10-year survival of 90%, 60%, and 20% for low, intermediate, and high grade tumors, respectively (p = 0.0007). Distant metastases at initial presentation (p = 0.0002) and size of the primary tumor (p = 0.0007) influenced outcome. Neither anatomic site nor depth of the primary tumor were significant prognostic factors. Positive microscopic margins were associated with a decreased disease-free survival (p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Tumor grade, size, and distant metastases at initial presentation remain the most important prognostic factors for MFH. Resection with negative microscopic margins decreased the incidence of local recurrence.
Gibbs
J F
JF
Division of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA. John.Gibbs@RoswellPark.org
Huang
P P
PP
Lee
R J
RJ
McGrath
B
B
Brooks
J
J
McKinley
B
B
Driscoll
D
D
Kraybill
W G
WG
D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D011437:Propylamines; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D011437:Propylamines; C054458:neopentylamine