[Pathologic and X-ray features of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone--a report of 16 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a common soft tissue tumor, which rarely occur in the skeleton. Its histological origin still remains controversial. This study was to investigate the pathologic and X-ray features of primary MFH of bone, and provide reference for imaging diagnosis.


METHODS
Clinical data and X-ray images of 16 MFH patients, treated from Jan. 1982 to Jun. 2002 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Pathologic manifestations of the patients were malignant multinucleated giant cells, pleomorphic and bizarre form of the tumor cells, and wheel-spoke arrangement of the fibroblast-like cells. Pathologically, the tumor tissue was consisted of various kinds of cells, which were mainly fibroblasts and histiocytes. The principal X-ray manifestations included solitary osteolytic changes, cortical expansion around the tumor, the penetration of the cortex with soft tissue mass formation, slight periosteal reaction and pathologic fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of MFH mainly depends on pathologic examination and X-ray manifestations.
Xi
Ri-Quan
RQ
Department of Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, P. R. China. sdfyy@sina.com.cn
Guo
Mao-Feng
MF
Xie
Dao-Hai
DH
Chu
Wei
W
Kang
Su-Ya
SY