Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the bucca: a case report

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma, but is relatively uncommon in head and neck area. Histologically, it is difficult to distinguish this tumor from other sarcomas and carcinomas. Surgery is the most reliable treatment for MFH, but the 5-year survival rate for cases of this tumor in the head and neck is low in comparison with MFH of the extremities and trunk. In the case reported here, the patient was a 61-year-old man who presented with swelling and pain of the left bucca. A CT scan demonstrated a 2.5 cm x 5.0 cm inhomogeneous lesion. In MRI, the tumor displayed an inhomogeneous isointense signal on T1-weighted images and a high-intensity signal on T2-weighted images. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was performed twice but we were unable to reach a definitive diagnosis histologically. MFH was subsequently diagnosed by open biopsy, and external radiotherapy with 38 Gy of radiation was performed. However, the tumor enlarged after this therapy, and therefore CyberKnife therapy was performed twice, after which the tumor gradually reduced in size. The patient is alive after a follow-up period of 22 months, and therefore we suggest that CyberKnife treatment may be useful for head and neck MFH.