An unusual long-term complication of burn injury: malignant fibrous histiocytoma developed in chronic burn scar

Development of malignant tumors in chronic burn wounds is a well-known comp lication. These tumors are almost always squamous cell carcinomas, although other types of malignancies such as basal cell carcinoma, malignant melano ma and sarcomas can be seen rarely. There are only three previously reporte d cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma developed in chronic burn scar in the literature. Two cases with malignant fibrous histiocytoma developed in chronic, badly treated burn wounds are presented. One of the tumors was mu ltifocal and overexpression of the p53 gene was present. Both tumors were e xcised widely and skin grafted. Regional lymph node dissection was performe d in one case. One of the patients died due to tumor recurrence and lymphat ic metastases. These cases represent a very uncommon complication of burn i njury and indicate the importance of the appropriate primary treatment of t he burn wound. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.