Treatment of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone. A plea for primary chemotherapy.

Seven patients have been treated for malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of bone since the end of 1977. One patient received no chemotherapy, and one did not complete attempted chemotherapy. Both died, 7 and 51 months after diagnosis, respectively. The remaining five patients completed chemotherapy. Two first underwent a primary amputation, whereas the other three received primary chemotherapy with histologic evaluation of the effect. These patients showed a complete remission. The five patients who completed chemotherapy are all still alive, without indications of metastases or local recurrence. Although the number of cases is small, a 25- to 58-months (mean, 45) survival, in five patients treated either with chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy and surgery, is surprisingly good in view of previous experience with this tumor. In some of these patients, the authors were able to document an absence of any viable tumor following chemotherapy.