Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone 20 years after femoral fracture treated by plate-screw fixation: analysis of corrosion products and their rolein malignancy

We report a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the bone that develop ed 20 years after a femoral fracture treated by plate-screw fixation. Simil ar cases reported over the past fifteen years in the literature suggest the possible mechanisms of sarcomatous degeneration. The possible carcinogenic effect of corrosion products is emphasized. Dispersion energy spectrometry of intracellular particles on the periphery and at the center of the tumor demonstrated the presence of chromium, iron and nickel at different concen trations. The association with other elements clearly demonstrates that the corrosion products were metabolized. The presence of metallic components i n tumoral cells suggests a possible relationship between metallic implants and malignancy. These observations emphasize the importance of creating a n ational, or even international, registry of malignant tumors that develop i n contact with metallic implants in order to search for a possible cause an d effect relationship.