The aim of this study was to analyze the imaging findings of 15 cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the head and neck, in order to better understand the tumor characteristics based on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CT (n=11) and MRI (n=4) images from 15 patients with histologically diagnosed MFH of the head and neck were retrospectively analyzed. The imaging characteristics were analyzed and compared among different histological subtypes. The lesions were primarily located in the maxillary sinus in 5 patients, the ethmoid sinus in 1 patient, the infratemporal fossa in 2 patients, the neck in 4 patients, the left mandible in 1 patient, the gingiva in 1 patient and the epiglottis in 1 patient. A total of 4 cases were associated with radiotherapy. All the lesions were ill-defined, ranging in size from 2.1 to 5.1 cm in the largest diameter. Bone fractures were evident in 9 cases. The attenuation, signal and enhancement patterns varied, although inflammatory MFH exhibited prolonged enhancement in dual-phase enhanced CT scans. MFH of the head and neck is rare but may be associated with radiotherapy. Although the imaging manifestations of MFH are various and non-specific, inflammatory MFH exhibits prolonged enhancement on dual-phase enhanced CT scans.
Keywords: computed tomography; magnetic resonance imaging; malignant fibrous histiocytoma.