Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of the Breast: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Background: Primary malignancies of the breast stromal elements and sarcomas of mesenchymal elements constitute less than 1 % of all breast neoplasms and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the breast is exceptionally rare. Histopathologically it is characterized by tumor pleomorphism with varying proportion of fibroblast and histiocyte like cells which stain positive for vimentin. We report our experience of a young female with MFH of the breast treated with mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Case: A 27 years old female presented with a progressively increasing lump in her right breast. On examination the lump was in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast,8 X 8cm in size, firm, mobile and nontender. The overlying skin was tense and glossy; neck or axillary nodes were not palpable. FNAC showed round to spindle shaped cells arranged in clusters; trucut biopsy revealed the cells in a typical storiform pattern suggestive of MFH.A mastectomy was done and patient received 3 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. 2 months after completion of chemotherapy she was asymptomatic. Conclusion: MFH of the breast is an extremely uncommon entity and a complete clinicopathological correlation with histopathological profile is requisite to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. The present case stresses upon the fact that MFH of breast must be kept as a differential diagnosis of any breast lump showing spindle cells and pleomorphism on cytology.