title: Primary intra-abdominal malignant fibrous histiocytoma: a highly aggressive tumor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of late adult life occurring predominantly in the extremities. Primary intra-abdominal MFH is a very rare occurrence. The aim of this study is to describe a very rare case of an intra-abdominal MFH with a highly aggressive clinical course.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 67-year-old male was referred to our department with a 2-week history of dull lower abdominal pain and a gradually enlarging right lower abdominal mass, which he first noticed 2 months prior to admission. Computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a mass in the right iliac fossa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On exploratory laparotomy, a tumor was found in the right iliac fossa attached to the parietal lateral peritoneum without any evidence of invasion into the adjacent structures. Complete excision of the tumor with clear margins was performed. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations showed a MFH. One month after surgery, while on adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient was readmitted with dyspnea and a slightly palpable mass in the area of the previous radical resection. CT scan revealed local tumor recurrence along with multiple pulmonary metastatic deposits. Unfortunately, despite treatment, the patient died of progressive disease 5 weeks later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary intra-abdominal MFH is a very rare but aggressive malignancy with a high tendency of local recurrence and metastatic spread. Early detection and complete surgical excision with clear margins is the treatment of choice. In some cases, however, the tumor can exhibit a highly aggressive clinical course despite radical surgery and adjuvant therapy.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Surgery, Army General Hospital, 19 Taxiarhon Str, 19014 Kapandriti, Athens, Greece. nikos_salemis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nikolaos S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Salemis
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsiambas
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panagiotopoulos
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karameris
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsohataridis
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D051677:Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*