Malignant fibrous histiocytomas induced in rats by polymers.

Five polymeric materials (3 polyvinyl chlorides, 1 polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, and 1 dimethyl polysiloxane) were implanted into subcutaneous (SC) tissues of rats. Subcutaneous tumors developed in all experimental groups. The incidences of the tumors differed however, although the experimental conditions were the same for all these materials. This result indicates that chemical characteristics of the materials may influence the incidence of SC tumors. From the histological and electron-microscopic findings many of these tumors were diagnosed as malignant fibrous histiocytomas.