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A malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a type of soft tissue sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that can start in either bone or, most often, in the soft tissues that connect, support, or surround organs and other body parts. Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center provides comprehensive medical and surgical care for children and adolescents with childhood malignant fibrous histiocytoma in our Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors Program.
In children, malignant fibrous histiocytoma:
The only symptom of childhood malignant fibrous histiocytoma is often a painless lump in the area where the cancer is growing. As the tumor increases in size, it might cause pain by pressing on a nerve or muscle, or even cause difficulty with movement if it affects the joints. If it spreads to other parts of the body, for example, the lungs, difficulty breathing may result.
Surgery to remove the tumor is the primary treatment for childhood malignant fibrous histiocytoma, sometimes followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy to destroy any cancer cells that may have spread beyond the tumor, and to prevent a recurrence.
Please refer to childhood soft tissue sarcomas for additional information about diagnosis, treatment, and care that your child will receive from our experienced clinicians.
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Find answers to common questions about clinical trials for childhood cancer, including whether or not a clinical trial may be the right choice for your child. You can also email your questions to clinicaltrials@danafarberbostonchildrens.org