[Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the femur after total hip prosthesis. Apropos of a case].

The development of a pathological fracture of the lower third of the femur in which a total hip arthroplasty had been cemented 20 months earlier, was followed several months later by extensive osteolysis round the prosthesis. After much discussion, a diagnosis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma was made. A review of the literature revealed a similar case and confirmed the possibility of induction of this rare tumour in one of several ways. Whilst the oncogenic effect of an implant cannot be proved, it cannot be excluded.