Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the lung

Background: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in adults. Its appearance as a primary lung tumor is extremely rare. The cell origin of MFH remains controversial. The treatment of choice for MFH is surgical resection, while the role of chemo- and radiotherapy remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 5 patients operated on for primary MFH in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Medical University in Gdansk between 1990 and 2000 was performed. Results: Out of approximately 2000 patients operated on for primary malignant lung tumors, five (0.25%) had MFH. The mean age of the 4 men and 1 woman was 62 years. In all cases radical resection was performed without adjuvant chemo- or radiotherapy. Four patients died within 2 - 7 months after the operation, three of them from distant metastases. The follow-up of one patient is not available. One patient is alive 11 years after the operation. Conclusion: Although surgical resection of MFH is the treatment of choice in MFH, the results are unsatisfactory.