Malignant histiocytomas.

During the past ten years, the histiogenesis of malignant histiocytomas and a group of related benign and malignant lesions have been the source of speculation. Although of heterogeneous histological appearance, it is believed that there is a common cell of origin for these neoplasms--the histiocyte. From 1966 to 1974, 16 patients were encountered who had neoplasms that fell into the general group of malignant histiocytomas. These tumors were variously located in the extremities, head, chest wall, retroperitoneum, lung, spermatic cord, and lower abdomen. Surgical treatment included radical amputations, wide local excision, pulmonary lobectomy, and nephrectomy. Cobalt therapy and chemotherapy with vincristine sulfate, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and chlorambucil were also used. Ten of 16 patients are alive after treatment, two are alive with metastatic disease, but four have died of malignant disease.