Fibrous histiocytoma of the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus

Two cases of fibrous histiocytoma were presented; Case 1: a 46-year-old man with a tumor filling the left nasal cavity and maxillary sinus, and Case 2: an 80-year-old man with a tumor of the right maxillary sinus destroying its surrounding wall. Histologically, the former was dominated by storiform pattern and onion-like structures, and the latter by osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells. After radical surgery, Case 1 was free of recurrence for more than one year, and Case 2 showed recurrence although still maintaining fairly good health. A total of 29 cases hitherto reported arising in the nasal, paranasal and nasopharyngeal regions were reviewed, pitfall of differential diagnoses was commented especially in our two cases, criteria of malignancy were discussed, and the necessity of repeated samplings was emphasized because of paucity and unfamiliarity of fibrous histiocytoma arising, in particular, from the upper respiratory tract.