Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma: A Series of Three Cases

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare, slow-growing soft tissue tumor with an intermediate biologic potential and uncertain line of differentiation, and minimal metastatic potential. AFH may mimic both the clinical, histological, and radiological findings of several tumors; therefore, it is frequently misdiagnosed.  Three cases of AFH were included in this study. A six-year-old male and two females with an age of 12 and 17 years are presented. The primary locations were in the right shoulder (case 1), left medial proximal thigh (case 2), and left lateral knee (case 3). Two cases (cases 2&3) were presented with a painful mass. In the three patients, the masses were firm, mobile, and not attached to the skin.  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done, illustrating unspecific findings to reach a diagnosis. Needle biopsies were performed in all patient, and the diagnosis of AFH was reached. All three patients underwent wide surgical excision of the tumor. Patients were followed up routinely every three to four months with imaging studies to rule out recurrence and metastasis, for a period of 15 months (case 1), 26 months (case 2), and 19 months (case 3), which all resulted negatively.