Malignant fibrous histiocytoma: An institutional review

Background: A thorough understanding of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH ), the most common subtype of soft tissue sarcoma, will lend to improved hi stologic-specific protocols. Methods: 126 patients with histologically conf irmed MFH were analyzed. The median follow-up was 42 months (range 1-233 mo nths). Results: Overall survival was 58% at 5 yeats and 35% at 10 years. Gr ade significantly influenced prognosis, with 10-year survival of 90%, 60%, and 20% for low, intermediate, and high grade tumors, respectively (p = 0.0 007). Distant metastases at initial presentation (p = 0.0002) and size of t he primary tumor (p = 0.0007) influenced outcome. Neither anatomic site nor depth of the primary tumor were significant prognostic factors. Positive m icroscopic margins were associated with a decreased disease-free survival ( p = 0.006). Conclusions: Tumor grade, size, and distant metastases at initi al presentation remain the most important prognostic factors for MFH. Resec tion with negative microscopic margins decreased the incidence of local rec urrence.