Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the parotid gland

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) arising in a major salivary gland is rare. We encountered a case of MFH affecting the parotid gland. The patient was a 54-year-old man diagnosed as having pleomorphic type of MFH after extended total parotidectomy. Examination of the resected specimen revealed the tumor had not been completely removed. Accordingly treatment consisted in the resection of MFH and radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy using carboplatin (CBDCA). This postoperative therapy was effective in controlling the growth of the remaining tumor tissue. As the patient showed no signs of local recurrence and distant metastasis for 5 years, plastic surgery was performed to improve the serious deformation of the face with a free anterolateral thigh flap. Our literature review yielded 17 cases of parotid MFH and the 2-year survival rate was 33%.