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Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of the Head and Neck after Radiation for Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of the Head and Neck after Radiation for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Kevin S. Sadati, Marian Haber and Robert T. Sataloff
Ear, nose, & throat journal, v 83(4), pp 278-281
Apr 2004
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/014556130408300419
PMID: 15147101
url
https://doi.org/10.1177/014556130408300419View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze),  Open

Abstract

A 60-year-old man presented with malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the oropharynx. The mass extended into the nasopharynx and larynx and caused severe upper airway obstruction that required emergency tracheotomy. Ten years earlier, he had undergone a right partial glossectomy and segmental mandibulectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tongue base, followed by 50 Gy of radiation delivered over 33 sessions. The tumor was so aggressive that changes in its volume were visually distinguishable during physical examination over a 2-week hospital stay. Histologic evaluation revealed 7 mitotic figures per high-power field. Although radiation-induced malignant fibrous histiocytoma is rare in the head and neck, the recent medical literature indicates that its incidence is rising. This rise has been attributed to the increased effectiveness of head and neck cancer therapy, which results in prolonging patients’ survival and, hence, their risk of subsequent disease. Because malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a late complication of radiation therapy, appearing on average 10 years following treatment, it is important that physicians who treat head and neck cancer monitor these patients over the long term and remain alert for its appearance, even despite the apparent “cure” of their original neoplasm.

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