Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the sigmoid: a case report and review of the literature

Background Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) in the large bowel, which is composed of spindle-shaped cells arranged in a pleiomorphic and storiform pattern, is an extremely rare tumor. Methods We in this study report on a case of a 73-year-old man with a sarcoma arising from a diverticular sigmoid without any signs of involvement of regional lymph nodes or metastasis to liver or the abdomen. Results A sigmoid resection was performed with an uneventful postoperative course. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of bundles of spindle-shaped and pleiomorphic multinucleated cells without differentiation characteristics for other tumors than MFH. Summary Since the late 1970s, only 22 case reports of colorectal MFH have been documented, and little is known about its histogenesis and optimal treatment. A review of the cases and the world literature on immunohistochemistry and treatment is given.