Primary laryngeal malignant fibrous histiocytoma: review of the literature and report of seven cases.

After describing 4 new cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the larynx (3 cases had been recently published), the authors review the literature, from which it appears that 16 such lesions of the larynx have been reported (including their 7 cases). Malignant fibrous histiocytoma usually occurs in the soft tissues, tendons and joints of the upper and lower extremities, and is uncommon in the head and neck--though not exceptional. The lesion is a mesenchymal tumor probably of histiocytic origin and may be divided into 6 subtypes, i.e., pleomorphic, fibrous, giant cell, angiomatoid, myxoid and inflammatory, to be distinguished on the basis of the predominant feature. The tumor has an aggressive biologic behavior as it tends to recur and to metastasize to distant organs. The treatment of choice is surgery and adjuvant combination chemotherapy which at times may improve the survival rate.