Radiographic evaluation of malignant fibrous histiocytoma affecting maxillary alveolar bone: a report of 2 cases.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographic findings of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) and to discuss the contribution of these findings to a differentiation of MFH from other malignant tumors of the head and neck.


METHODS
Two cases of MFH of the maxillary sinus affecting the alveolar bone were evaluated radiographically and scintigraphically.


RESULTS
We reported the following findings, which have only seldom been described: the presence of fairly well-demarcated bone destruction in the intraoral radiograph; the relatively smooth surface, uniform density, or no necrotic area of the tumor; in computed tomograph images showing the clear separation of the tumor from surrounding soft tissues; bone scintigraphs reflecting the periosteal reaction to tumor invasion; and lymphoscintigraphy of the metastatic lymph nodes.


CONCLUSIONS
We evaluated the radiographic findings from 2 cases of MFH and describe findings that may aid in the differentiation of MFH. These radiographic features may help dentists differentiate MFH from other malignant tumors in the head and neck, although MFH is a rare disease and there are no radiographic findings that would indicate a specific diagnosis of MFH.
Sato
T
T
Department of Dental Radiology, Kagoshima University Dental School, Japan. sato@denta.hal.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Kawabata
Y
Y
Morita
Y
Y
Noikura
T
T
Mukai
H
H
Kawashima
K
K
Sugihara
K
K
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002951:Citrates; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005708:Gallium; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008444:Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010521:Periosteum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D002951:Citrates; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C024226:technetium Tc 99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate; D005708:Gallium; C103850:gallium citrate; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate