Malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the parotid gland. Case series and literature review

Background. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), a soft tissue sarcoma that is predominantly localized in the extremities and retroperitoneum, rarely occurs in the head and neck. This study presents the clinicopathological features of three patients with MFH of the parotid gland treated at the ENT department of the University Hospital of Muenster (Germany) between 1991 and 2002. Patients. The clinical course of all three patients was defined by a rapidly growing mass in the parotid area. Surgical therapy was the first treatment of choice. In two patients, radical parotidectomy was performed, whereas one patient underwent partial parotidectomy. Selective neck dissection was performed in one case. In two cases, post-surgical treatment involved radiation and/or chemotherapy. Two patients died as a consequence of local recurrence within the first year after diagnosis, whereas one patient is alive and free of disease after a follow up of 14 months. Conclusion. Our own experiences, taken together with those reported in the literature, suggest that clear surgical margins are probably the most important factor for avoiding a recurrence and to improve disease free survival.