Recurrent and metastatic cellular cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma: A case report and literature review

J Cutan Pathol. 2024 Mar;51(3):214-220. doi: 10.1111/cup.14574. Epub 2023 Dec 12.

Abstract

Cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma (FH) is considered a benign dermal tumor. The cellular variant is rare and poorly documented. Besides presenting a high risk of local recurrence, it has a low but serious metastatic potential. We present a case of metastatic cellular FH and also review the literature on this tumor, given its unusual metastatic development. A 47-year-old male patient presented with a lesion in the anterior surface of the right thigh, which has been present since adolescence but had grown during last year. Anatomopathological evaluation revealed a cellular FH, and the lesion was completely removed. Six months later, tumor recurrence with multiple compartment muscle involvement and pulmonary metastasis were detected. Both lesions were completely resected and after 3 years of follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic and free of the disease. We conclude that FH should be carefully sampled to detect variants with high local recurrence rates or with some metastatic risk such as the cellular one. We recommend wide surgical resection and a close follow-up including chest x-rays or thorax computed tomography (CT) in all cellular FH cases with local recurrence.

Keywords: Tumors Committee; cellular; dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; fibrous histiocytoma.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology