Home > Encyclopedia of Cancer > Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma

Definition

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), although rare, is the most common abnormal growth of soft tissue (sarcoma) in adults.

Description

MFH occurs as a painless mass most commonly in the skin, arms, legs, kidneys, or the pancreas. More rarely MFH may occur in the bones, heart, breasts, or inside the skull.

When MFHs spread (metastasize) to other organs, the most common site is the lung, but metastasis to local lymph nodes and to bone have also been reported.

MFHs tend to be slow growing and slow to metastasize.

Local recurrence of MFH after surgery to remove the initial tumor is common because MFHs grow...