[Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone. Clinical pathology and histological diagnosis]

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone is a histologically well-defined tumor. Our aim is to describe five own cases and to analyze the published cases in order to demonstrate, the controversial aspects of clinical pathology. The essential histological criteria are the storiform tissue pattern and the presence of fibroblastic and histiocytic cells and giant cells. Inclusive of our cases, the total number reported stands at 196. There are features of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone about which there is almost general agreement: 1. The tumor occurs at all ages with an average onset from the age of 10 to the age of 50. 2. The tumor occurs in both the long and flat bones, but the main sites are the distal femur and the proximal tibia. 3. The tumor lacks any initial distinctive features in its clinical phase, but with respect to its biological behaviour, malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone can be distinguished from osteosarcoma.