MALIGNANT FIBROUS HISTIOCYTOMA OF THE MANDIBLE - THE IMPORTANCE OF ANACCURATE HISTOPATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS

A case is presented of a malignant fibrous histiocytoma arising in the mandible and oral cavity of a 62-year old woman. The histopathologica l features were typical and the diagnosis was confirmed on immunohisto chemistry. The exact nature of this usually soft tissue sarcoma is unc ertain, but it is a well defined clinicopathological tumour entity whi ch only rarely arises in the ja,vs. Microscopically, it may resemble o ther neoplasms, such as sarcomatoid squamous carcinoma, and an accurat e diagnosis requires the use of immunohistochemistry or electron micro scopy. Treatment is primarily surgical, but because of the difficultie s at this site of complete removal with adequate margins, recurrence, metastasis and death due to disease are a likely outcome.