Combined pulmonary lobectomy for surgical treatment of a malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the chest wall: a case report

BACKGROUND: A malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) rarely originates from the chest wall. CLINICAL FINDINGS: In this case, we describe a 59-year-old Chinese woman who presented with an enormous mass originating from the left chest wall and involving the left upper pulmonary lobe. THERAPY: After a radical en-block resection of the entire chest mass with left upper pulmonary lobectomy, and the chest wall reconstruction, a histopathologic diagnosis of the giant cell MFH was rendered. She has done well postoperatively, showing no local recurrence or distal disease in an 8-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Although a MFH originating from the chest wall is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a chest wall tumor. VIRTUAL SLIDES: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/8895569301129379