Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses

Malignant fibrous histiocytomas are uncommon in the head and neck, the sino nasal tract being the most common location. This report describes 5 cases i n this area: two in the nasal cavity, two in the maxillary sinus, and one i n the frontal sinus. Four were primary cases and one was secondary to previ ous irradiation. All patients received surgical treatment, orle of them wit h postoperative irradiation. All five patients experienced local recurrence s and three also experienced distant metastases. Only one of these recurren ces was successfully salvaged and the patient is alive and free of disease 3 years after resection. A summary of knowledge about the entity is reviewe d.