Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the head and neck. A report of 12 cases.

The clinical and pathologic features of 12 cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the head and neck were studied. These tumors occurred in seven men and five women ranging in age from 21 to 75 years (average, 55 years). The sinonasal tract was the most common site (four cases), followed by the parotid area (two cases), oral cavity (two cases), soft tissues of the neck (two cases), mandible (one case), and larynx (one case). Pathologically, 11 of the tumors were subclassified as storiform-pleomorphic and one as inflammatory. All were treated initially with surgery with or without postoperative irradiation. Five (42%) of the patients experienced local recurrences, three (25%) developed distant metastases (especially to the lungs), and five (42%) died of their disease, all of the latter occurring within two years of diagnosis. No patient developed bona fide cervical lymph node metastasis, although one did have a positive paraparotid node as a result of direct extension from an adjacent tumor.