Cutaneous malignant histiocytosis--a clinicopathological review of five cases

Malignant histiocytosis is a rare, and usually fatal, tumour which may involve the skin. The clinical and pathological changes are described in five patients who presented with skin nodules as the initial feature. We witnessed spontaneous healing of lesions, a previously described phenomenon which may cause diagnostic confusion. It is suggested that patients presenting with malignant histiocytosis confined to the skin form a sub-group with a more favourable prognosis.