Angiomatoid variant of fibrous histiocytoma: a case report and review of literature

Abstract

Fibrous histiocytomas by themselves are not very common in the head and neck region. Apart from considering the above fact, this report describes a unique and relatively rare variant of the neoplasm - the angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) which has a characteristic appearance and predilection for young individuals that occurred in the left lower border of the mandible in a 13-year-old girl. Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is a distinct fibrohistiocytic tumour of children and young adults that combines features of both fibrohistiocytic and vascular neoplasm. It is considered to be a tumour of intermediate malignancy because of its less aggressive course in contrast to the conventional malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The authors would like to stress upon the fact that clinicians should not overlook swellings that may not appear distinct visually and therefore consider it to be a part of normal anatomy, dismiss it as an anomaly with no significance, or treat it injudiciously, for ultimately it may prove to be a tumour that would require appropriate treatment and follow-up.