Fibrous histiocytomas in the tropics

Sixty patients with fibrous histiocytomas - malignant fibrous histiocytomas and benign histiocytomas - presenting at University College Hospital, Ibadan over a 10-year period have been evaluated retrospectively. A malignant:benign tumour ratio of 2.8:1, a male:female ratio of 1:1, and a predilection for malignant histiocytomas to occur early (16-25 years) in contrast to benign histiocytomas (26-35 years) were noted. While the trunk accounted for one-third of cases, the extremities accounted for two-thirds of all patients. A long history of slow growth (from 6 months to 11 years) of a large bossellated tumour anywhere in the body, with a tendency to recurrence after excision and potential for metastasis, constitute the main characteristics of this tumour.