An analysis of 38 malignant fibrous histiocytomas in the extremities.

All the malignant soft tissue tumours in the extremities and limb girdles reported to the Finnish Cancer Registry between 1960-1969 were reviewed. From a total of 246 sarcomas, 38 were diagnosed as malignant fibrous histiocytoma. There was an equal number of male and female patients with the median age of 67 years. The thigh was the most frequent site, and the majority of the tumours originated in the deep soft tissues. The predominant treatment was excision followed by radiation therapy. In 17 patients there were one or more recurrences and in 21 patients there was a metastatic spread ascertained by biopsy, autopsy or clinical or radiographic evidence. There were 11 survivors with a minimum of 5 years' follow-up; seven patients died of an intercurrent disease and the remaining 20 patients were considered victims of their tumour. The findings that seemed to favour a poor prognosis were higher age and female sex of the patient as well as deep location, large size, necrotic areas, and high mitotic activity of the tumour.